Be The Hero

From The Desk of a Geek:

Be The Hero

 "No Matter How Much Someone Has Hurt You Or Betrayed You Or How Much It Seems That Someone Is Evil, At Their Core, Everyone Is Worth Saving."

(Clark Kent)

Have you noticed our fascination with superheroes? They are a cultural phenomenon. They are the subjects of comic books and blockbuster movies. It is not uncommon to see someone dress up as their favorite superhero.

But what is it that makes these superheroes so fascinating? Their super power is the obvious answer. Each super hero has a unique ability that sets them apart from the rest of us. Their super power is something that makes them special.

A second reason we are fascinated with these superheroes is that they are equally human. 

They have their struggles and they have their flaws. We are able to identify with them and we are encouraged by their ability to overcome the obstacles in front of them.

A third reason is they are heroes. We love our heroes. On November 11th we celebrated our American military heroes who sacrifice so much for the cause of freedom. 

We celebrate our heroes and they inspire us. Even though superheroes may live in the fantasy world, they give hope in the darkest moments. They remind us that good will triumph over evil.

As I talk about superheroes, I am reminded how Jesus is the ultimate superhero. He has amazing superpowers. His powers are to heal the sick, cast out demons, make the lame to walk, and raise the dead. 

The best thing about his powers are they are real and not make-believe.

Beyond his superpowers, Jesus is amazingly human. He is God made flesh. He became one of us. He emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of man.

We can relate to Jesus. Even though he is all-powerful and clothed in majesty, he disguised himself in human flesh that we might know God and live in relationship with him.

He is our hero. He won salvation. He saves us from ourselves, from sin, from Satan, and from death. He won the victory over the grave through his resurrection. He took our sin upon himself and received our punishment, so that we might be free from guilt. We simply believe in him as our saving superhero.

Yes, Jesus is the original and ultimate superhero, but here is something else you need to know: he has given you a mission to also live as a superhero in this world. 

Through his Holy Spirit you are given powers and abilities beyond your own strength and wisdom. You are empowered and anointed with his presence. He supernaturally equips you for every task he assigns.

While Superman’s weakness was Kryptonite, our weakness is doubt. We doubt the supernatural ability God gives. We believe God can, but we doubt he will. It is much easier to sit back and blend in than it is to stand up and stand out. 

You probably have noticed superheroes wear elaborate costumes. They stand out. The costume draws attention to their abilities. As superheroes are clothed with elaborate costumes, you are to be clothed with Christ. It is not to draw attention to yourself, but to draw attention to the power of Christ at work in you.

So how is your identity as a superhero for Christ revealed? 

Lonnie

Do Good

From The Desk of a Geek:

Do Good

I love a good western movie. Tonight I watched a pretty good one called 

Goodnight For Justice staring the late Luke Perry of the 90's teen drama 

90210, and most recently Riverdale.

Luke Perry plays John Goodnight,

a circuit judge in the Wyoming territory 

In one scene you see Judge Goodnight talking to a young boy, and the boy asked if spitting is wrong, and if he is guilty. 

Goodnight replies, "Although spitting isn't against the law, we are all guilty of something....

Every man is guilty of NOT doing enough good".

What keeps us from doing good? Sometimes it’s our busyness. Other times it may be that doing something good is not convenient. Or perhaps we just don’t want to go against social norms, so we hold back. Whatever the reason, at one time or another, most of us have passed up an opportunity to do something good for someone.

The Pharisees presented Jesus with a difficult situation. Their laws said it was a violation to do work on the Sabbath, unless it meant saving a life. But here in the temple was a man with a withered hand. His life was not in danger, though. Should he be healed on the Sabbath?

Jesus didn’t even hesitate. He asked the religious leaders what they would do if something bad happened to one of their precious sheep on the Sabbath. 

Of course they would help the animal. And wasn’t a person more valuable than a sheep? This man with a shriveled hand was precious to God. So of course this man could be helped on the Sabbath. Then Jesus healed the man.

Should anything stop us from doing good for each other? No.

Nothing stood in Jesus’ way. 

We are his treasured possessions. 

He has done and will do whatever it takes to rescue us and make us whole. Healing, deliverance, salvation, care—none of these things is beyond reason for God to act. So nothing should stand in our way either.

We learn in Revelation 22:1, John saw “the river of the water of life… flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.”  

John noticed that the leaves of the trees that lined the river’s banks were used for “the healing of the nations”.

What a beautiful picture.  We may borrow the picture and apply it to ourselves, for Scripture uses the same symbol to describe the happy person who is planted by the river of God with her roots in the river of life.

Our lives should offer relief from the heat and shelter from the storm to those who need it.  People should take one look at our ever green lives and make a beeline for us.  Our lives should be full of healing, relief, and balm.

Are your leaves used for healing?  You can be a tree of life for others.  

If I think about my life in recent days and years, I ask myself, “Have people beaten a path to my door because they know where help can be found?”  I want to be a tree Like Jeremiah describes with its roots in the river, its leaves ever green, and fruit that never fails.

When I my father got sick, I knew the heat was on.  Coming from a family with little evangelical background, I knew there would be lots of opportunities to offer my leaves for healing in the days to come.  

But this was my great test, too!  This was my beloved father who was entering the valley of the shadow.  I would be struggling with my own huge sense of loss.  How could I help others when I needed such a lot of help myself?

The answer was the river, the river of life.  Life in the Spirit offered a source of life to me in the very face of death. 

My job would be to keep my roots in the river, my leaves full of sap, and stay ever green.  It was a hard, hot, desert experience for me, but the Spirit of God was sufficient to supply all I needed, not only for myself, but also for others.  God was indeed a life-giving spring.

Lonnie..