I read an article discussing the ten highest grossing films in 2017. An overwhelming 80% of them were about a superhero. Good vs evil, light vs darkness. Everyone was clamoring to see a supernatural savior. So what does that say to you? A large portion of society is wanting to escape a fantasy world. It shows we have a deep longing to be saved, and an innate desire to be the one who saves others in distress.
But do Superheros exist? They most definitely do! They don't wear capes or masks. They don't wear their underwear on the outside of their pants. No, real superheros wear uniforms. They are the fire fighters, the police officers, and the men and women of the military. They are doctors, EMT's, and yes even Pastors. They are all mostly people that have accepted the calling to save others. Their goal is to save other people's lives, protect them from the evil in this world, and even sometimes at the great cost of their own lives. But are they the only Superheros that exist?
Can anyone be a Superhero? A teenager can be a Superhero. That few minutes you took the other day to talk to the kid no one speaks to makes you a Superhero. Just that morning they had made the decision to end their life, but your kind words changed their entire world. That lady in the grocery store that just dropped all her groceries and you helped her pick them up. She looks like she's about to lose it because she just found out her child is deathly ill. Your kindness allowed her to momentarily forget her pain. The happiness and smile that your visit to that lonely elderly man lying in his hospital bed, makes you a Superhero.
You see, the basic criteria for being a Superhero is Love. Showing someone sacrificial love and taking their needs into consideration above your own makes you a Superhero. It also makes you Christlike. 1 John 3:16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. Just like Superheros, Christians aren't promised prosperity in life. They are called to lay down their lives as followers of Christ.
It says in John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Our love for other people should stand out in stark contrast to everyone else. We should seem as something otherworldly in our compassion for others.
Christ was the ultimate superhero. His sacrificial love was bestowed to all of mankind. It was given to those who hated him as much as those who loved him. His sacrifice was given to all. He paid the ultimate price of his life while bearing upon himself every wrong thing that every person would ever commit. Philippians 2:6-8 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
If we could show to each other even a small fraction of the love Christ showed; we would all have the ability to be Superheros. May You Be Blessed With Peace And Understanding.
