Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Lois and Clark, part 1












Every 20 years Godzilla makes a comeback.  And each new generation gets to meet the ultimate monster of all times.  This time he is a little chubbier, he is 58, and kids will soon fall in love with him.  We need more heroes like him, who go from bad to good, from destroying Tokyo to rescuing it, and the beat goes on.  But my favorite superhero, Superman has lasted even longer.  We grew up with George Reeves, to me the real Superman, and still wonder why no one could tell that Clark was really Superman.  I was never into the movies, but in reruns now I am enjoying Lois and Clark.  20 year old reruns, that provide great entertainment, yes some violence, but the good guys always win.  And in true hero form, Superman met his match, really his mate in Lois Lane this time.  Seeing a romantic side to the ultimate crime fighter has made us root for them to get married, and the series is taking its time, getting the most from it.  With Clark, trying to find a way to tell Lois he is Superman, and Lois not sure she is in love with Clark or Superman.  Being a super hero can be tougher than you might think.  But she discovers who Superman really is, one time Clark touched her face, and she knew, and now is really confused.  Hence more shows until they get married.  But she poses a great question to him, and we find out a lot about a young Clark Kent than Smallville ever told us.  And an insight to why some heroes are super, and some just wear capes.  When she asks him “who are you really, are you Clark Kent or Superman?” he gives the right answer.  Of course he would, what were you thinking.  “Clark Kent is who I am, Superman is what I am.”  Give that writer an Oscar, great line.  But to Lois, and the writers, it just prolongs the season ,until she realizes she does love Clark, because of who he is, and Superman because of what he is. 
A song I heard over 20 years ago has always stuck in my mind, and helped to shape my relationship with Jesus.  A simple song that goes “Lord I love you because of who you are, not for all the wondrous things that you have done...”  And I wonder why we don’t?  After all He is God, shouldn’t that be enough?  But for many it isn’t, and they struggle, both Christians and non-Christians.  They try bargain with God, “if you do this, I’ll obey you...” having a more intimate relationship with their golf game than the creator of the universe.  Or finding a place way down on their list of values, right after cars, home, careers, and family.  Did I miss one?  While some just call out to Him like Lois does, in time of needs.  Or when we can’t get ourselves out of the problem, we use God as a last resort.  When really He should be our first and only.  For Jesus is the original Superman, able to do all the things Superman did, plus offer eternal life.  Even Clark ages, remember he was born wrapped in a blanket, Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothes, he was born supernaturally, and raised by a father who hadn’t bore him, just like Joseph raised Jesus.  And both started their career of helping others at age 30.  Is it possible that Jesus really is Superman, and we have missed it all this time?  Would you love Him more if He was?  Could the Man of Steel really be a subliminal message about Jesus Christ?  Superman saves lives, Jesus saves souls, could it be true?
But we also need to ask ourselves, who are we in Christ?  Are we just caught up in church, in religion, or living out life in a denomination?  Who are we, and what are we?  We are who we are, but we are also part of the family of God.  For no one who tells you we are all one tells the truth.  Only those who received Him did He give the right to be called sons of God.  Born of God, not the will of man.  John 1:13-14.  So to become family, we must know God, and the only way to know God is through Jesus, to be Born Again.  It is simple.  And again in Acts 1:8 tells us how we will be witnesses of God, when the spirit has come upon us.  Just saying it won’t do it, and uniting in anything but the spirit of God will cut you off short.  We need to love God for who He is, then all things will be added unto us.  He loves us first, then we love Him, we are saved and become family.  So who you are in Christ is important, and what you are is also. 
We walk by faith and not by sight, just  like Lois did.  Superman was there the whole time behind Clark’s glasses.  And she couldn’t see it.  But when Clark touched her cheek, like Superman had, she knew.  We see dimly, but we need to trust fully.  To be born again your heart must be touched by the Holy Spirit, no one ever set out to look for God without His urging.  And it is a romantic relationship, with the one who is love showing you the way.  Forgiving you, guiding you, and bringing joy into your life.  Giving you more power than you ever thought imaginable.  And able to do greater things than even the apostles did, that’s His promise.  So what is your excuse?  Still don’t believe a man can fly?  Or that He can be raised from the dead?  Why not try loving God just because He is God?  He loves you just because you are you, still don’t believe in miracles after that? 
And so another generation is introduced to Godzilla, and another generation is introduced to God.  The story of a super man goes on.  And it does have a happy ending for those who receive Him, for those what give their lives to Him.  Not Clark, but Jesus.  The only super man ever born, and who died for our sins-nothing no one else could, or ever would do.  So you see God, the original super hero did have a son, Jesus.  The story is still out on Lois and Clark.  We believe in Superman because we have seen him, yet we struggle with Jesus, because it takes faith.  Try a little faith today...look up in the sky...that’s how He’s coming back.  So be ready, soon is sooner than you think.
And now since you know so much about Superman, maybe you can answer this for me, why do bullets bounce of his chest, but he must duck when a gun is thrown at him?  On Krypton a father gave his son, so he might live, God gave us Jesus so we might live.  Jesus is who He is, our savior is what He is.  To be continued.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com