Be a super hero in 2012

During November of last year I was in Prince George, British Columbia teaching a seminar on the life of Christ.   

On the flight there I watched the movie Green Lantern which is based upon a comic book hero of the same name.  Back in the day, Green Lantern was one of my favorite members of the Justice League of America.  He wasn’t as well known as Superman or Batman but was cool in my book because of his uniform and power ring.  He displayed great courage in facing exotic villains who would bring destruction upon our world and impose their sinister will upon helpless victims. 

But less we forget Green Lantern was like virtually all of the other superheroes.  They each had another identity --- a day job as a normal person just like you and I.  GL was really Hal Jordan, Superman was Clark Kent, and Batman was Bruce Wayne.

That made me think about who I am and who you are.  We are ordinary people, with ordinary jobs, in ordinary places, living ordinary lives.  None of us can leap tall buildings, own a secret cave with a Bat-mobile, or have a power lantern that gives us great control over the physical world as long as we have sufficient willpower and strength to wield it.

But God has given us a new identity – “Christian,” a cool uniform – “the righteousness of Christ,” empowered us with a power source unlike any others – “the Holy Spirit,” and given us a mission to complete.  That mission is far more compelling than to “stop exotic villains” --- it’s to take God’s message of salvation to a world that is lost in sin.  That message can save humanity from eternal destruction, transform man’s heart and character from evil to good, and restore mankind to a right relationship with its Creator. 

Hal Jordan was chosen, equipped, and empowered for a mission by the mythical Guardians of the Universe.  Similarly, God – the real and only Guardian of the Universe has done the same with us.  

Jesus said in John 15:16a “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last…” 

In the movie Green Lantern, Hal Jordan made a conscious willful decision to live according to his calling, and as a result he became a hero.  And likewise we can fulfill our calling and live heroically in 2012, by exercising our will to tell others about God’s story of salvation.