The Right Role Model

Spiritual health is affected by the role models we choose to follow.

In a famous 1993 Nike commercial, NBA legend Charles Barkley looked directly into the camera and declared, "I am not a role model." He insisted he was paid to wreak havoc on the basketball court, not to raise anyone’s children. It was a provocative attempt to shift the burden of influence back to parents, but it ignored a fundamental reality of the human design: imitation is not an elective; it is an instinct.

Barkley, despite his protests and his history of on-court fights and off-court controversy, was a role model. We are all "architects" of our own character, and we build using the blueprints we observe in others. The tragedy of the human condition is our strange propensity to imitate the worst versions of those we follow. We often gravitate toward a person’s chapter of rebellion rather than their season of redemption.

Every life is shaped by this silent force of influence. To understand how imitation can lead to either restoration or ruin, we must look at the biblical narrative of King Amon. His life serves as a stark warning: spiritual health is a direct reflection of our chosen role models.

Role Model Takeaway 1: We Magnify What We Choose to Observe

Spiritual direction is shaped by what we "magnify." King Amon was the son of King Manasseh, a man whose life was a jarring tale of two halves. Manasseh’s first chapter was defined by extreme occult evil, but his final chapter was marked by profound repentance. Amon had a choice of which "footsteps" to follow. Tragically, he chose to align himself with his father’s rebellious beginning rather than his redeemed ending.

Amon had witnessed the consequences of sin firsthand. He saw his father judged, his nose pierced like a bull’s nose, and his body dragged away to Babylon with a chain. He also saw his father return to walk with God and destroy the very idols he once built. Yet, access to a good example does not guarantee the adoption of that example. Amon chose to repeat the chaos rather than repair it. Uncorrected patterns become multiplied problems.

"And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father Manasseh did" (2 Kings 21:20).

Role Model Takeaway 2: The Danger of "Normalcy" vs. God's Approval

Righteousness is defined by alignment, not comparison. The scripture notes that Amon acted "in the sight of the LORD." This phrase is the ultimate diagnostic. Righteousness is not a relative measurement; it is not determined by being "better" than a criminal or a historical villain. You may be "better" than a monster, but that does not define your righteousness. True righteousness is an absolute position before God.

Amon’s failure was rooted in his preference for what felt "normal" over what was faithful. He grew comfortable with the idols of his youth. This is the "Pompeii Effect." For decades, the citizens of Pompeii lived in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius. The volcano smoked, the ground trembled, and walls cracked. But because it happened often, familiarity replaced vigilance. When the eruption finally came, what they had accepted as "normal" became fatal. We must re-evaluate what we have accepted as normal from those we emulate, for God expects alignment with His Word, not just a "better-than-average" lifestyle.

Role Model Takeaway 3: The Gradual Erosion—Walking, Serving, Worshipping

The decline of a soul is rarely a sudden collapse; it is a gradual erosion. 2 Kings 21:21 outlines a specific cycle of spiritual failure that begins with a simple alignment and ends with a complete change in identity.

• Walking: You set your eyes on a goal and move toward it.

• Serving: What you repeatedly walk toward, you eventually begin to rely upon.

• Worshipping: What you rely on becomes what you trust, and what you trust becomes your identity.

This progression explains how a hobby becomes a habit, a habit becomes a dependence, and a dependence finally defines one’s identity. Consider the mechanics of an all-wheel-drive vehicle. The system is designed for all four tires to have identical tread depth. If one tire is mismatched, the difference in circumference strains the entire drivetrain. Eventually, that small misalignment causes catastrophic system failure. If we do not keep our small alignments in check through daily devotion, the entire structure of our lives will eventually lean and fall.

Role Model Takeaway 4: The Resistance of Pride

The difference between the repentant Manasseh and the rebellious Amon was not a lack of opportunity, but a difference in posture. Manasseh cried out from a dungeon and received a second chance; Amon witnessed both judgment and grace and simply did not care. He was more comfortable worshipping himself than submitting to the Lord.

This refusal to adapt to the "Source of Life" is what destroyed the Viking colonies in Greenland in the 1400s. While the native Inuit people thrived using survival techniques suited for the environment, the Vikings refused to learn from them, clinging to trade routes that eventually failed. They withered not because the land was unlivable, but because they separated themselves from the source of strength. When we delay humility, our softness turns into resistance.

"And he did not humble himself before the LORD, as his father Manasseh had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more" (2 Chronicles 33:23).

Role Model Takeaway 5: Breaking the Cycle Through Redemptive Models

One Person’s Failure Does Not Cancel God’s Purpose. The story of Amon is dark, but God preserves hope by raising better models even out of broken lineages. Amon’s son, King Josiah, became one of the godliest kings in history. Josiah faced the "Leaning Tower of Pisa" of his heritage—a structure built on soft, unstable soil that began to tilt the moment construction started. Rather than adding more weight to the lean, Josiah sought a new foundation.

In the history of Israel, there were 42 kings, and only 23% were faithful. Most followed the destructive pattern of Jeroboam, while the faithful minority followed the pattern of David. Josiah chose the minority report. This proves you are not locked into your upbringing. One person’s weakness cannot thwart God’s plans. By grace, we can select better patterns and build on what is redeemed rather than repeating what was broken.

Conclusion: The Ultimate Pattern

Spiritual health is a direct result of our chosen role models. While human examples will always be inconsistent, there is a final and perfect pattern for our imitation. In the Roman Empire, crucifixion was designed to erase a man’s influence and silence his movement forever. It was a symbol of terror and humiliation. Yet, from that very cross, the pattern of Christ emerged to conquer the Empire. Roman officials who once mocked Him eventually bowed to Him.

Jesus Christ is not merely an example of goodness; He is the pattern of life itself. He is the model that redeems everything the wrong models have harmed.

"Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma" (Ephesians 5:1-2).

Following the wrong model can destabilize your entire life, but following the right one can restore it.

Who are you magnifying today, and where is that path leading you tomorrow?