Every so often we can learn an important lesson about faith whilst watching a TV programme that, on the face of it, has very little to do with Christianity.
On Tuesday evening I found myself watching Smallville on E4. For those who don’t know Smallville is concerned with the story of the young Clark Kent and tells of how he eventually grew up to become Superman. The particular episode was called ‘Homecoming’ and one of Clark’s allies from the Legion of Superheroes in the future, Brainiac 5, travels back in time to show Clark that he still blames himself for his adoptive father's death years prior, he is abandoning his friends in the present, and that his fear of his own future is unfounded. This leads to Clark gaining new self confidence and beginning to show the support for his friends that he should.
I was immediately struck by the parallels in my own life. As a Christian it I easy to dwell on all the times that I’ve failed God; all the times I’ve sinned, all the mistakes I’ve made. Whilst it is good for us to acknowledge our sinfulness and our need for God it can also lead us to dwell too much on the negative and to think far too little of all the positive, loving, life affirming and God affirming things we have done as well.
As Christians we can become almost paralysed by our own lack of self-worth and fear of failure. Whilst it is good to be humble and to acknowledge our need for God it is also good for us to remember that through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and with the empowering of that same Spirit we can do mighty things for God.
Clark Kent has his super powers and by the end of the Smallville episode he realises that he can indeed fulfil his destiny and become the world’s greatest superhero. We have a far greater power in our lives through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and if we rely on his guidance and empowerment, if we walk in his way and do God’s will, then we too can do good things an fulfil the special calling God has for each and every one of us.
No comments:
Post a Comment