According to Bill (from the movie Kill Bill), Clark Kent is Superman's thesis on humanity - his understanding of all our weakness and imperfection. The Bible says God is strongest when He works through the weakest people. Moses wasn't a public speaker, but was used to free the land of Israel through God's words and power. David was a boy, but with faith in God he killed the giant Goliath. Fishermen, tax collectors and other common men were chosen as Jesus' disciples - the future saints of the world, the pillars of faith.
In a world that celebrates external pomp and fashion, inner beauty is greatly overlooked. In a meritocracy like ours, the weak get left behind. Like Moses, who spent 40 years in a distant land (having abandoned his royal splendor for obscurity), we hope that God might strengthen us or use us, but by the time He's ready... we are not.
"Who am I to lead these people?" Moses said this shortly after God gives him his wake-up call, burning-bush style. He has lost his regal behavior, his princely reputation, his royal network, his warrior strength. He's figured out the system, managed to survive. He's content with the flock he's led safely, not knowing it was training for a bigger - no, monumental - task.
Now, 80-year old Moses and his eloquent brother Aaron must convince the Egyptian Pharaoh to shatter an age-old legacy of slavery and submit to an invisible God. When the time comes when we have "made money work for us," as Robert Kiyosaki might say, can we give everything up for God? Jesus asked the rich man the same thing: "One thing you lack: Go, sell your possessions and give to the poor...then come, follow me." The rich man refuses. Poor Moses succeeds.
In a world that celebrates external pomp and fashion, inner beauty is greatly overlooked. In a meritocracy like ours, the weak get left behind. Like Moses, who spent 40 years in a distant land (having abandoned his royal splendor for obscurity), we hope that God might strengthen us or use us, but by the time He's ready... we are not.
"Who am I to lead these people?" Moses said this shortly after God gives him his wake-up call, burning-bush style. He has lost his regal behavior, his princely reputation, his royal network, his warrior strength. He's figured out the system, managed to survive. He's content with the flock he's led safely, not knowing it was training for a bigger - no, monumental - task.
Now, 80-year old Moses and his eloquent brother Aaron must convince the Egyptian Pharaoh to shatter an age-old legacy of slavery and submit to an invisible God. When the time comes when we have "made money work for us," as Robert Kiyosaki might say, can we give everything up for God? Jesus asked the rich man the same thing: "One thing you lack: Go, sell your possessions and give to the poor...then come, follow me." The rich man refuses. Poor Moses succeeds.
As for the rest of us, the conflict of being "in the world, but not of it" is almost schizophrenic. Christians are living dual identities daily, a juggling act that leave some disillusioned, some destroyed. We humbly bring all praise and glory to God, but somehow maintain our self-esteem. We must be zealous and courageous spiritual warriors, but we must live humbly and work for peace and salvation.
At our lowest point, God is most appreciated. When the judge waives the sentence. When the doctor smiles after surgery. When the check clears. When Jesus returns from the grave. Even the Son of God experienced humanity to understand the lesson: God wants us to know in our bones that God is all we NEED when God is ALL WE HAVE LEFT. That level of intensity in our faith, though, is ALWAYS required from Christians. Covered in "ordinary" wrapper.
I may appear at times to be too cynical or too zealous. It clashes with the humility Jesus taught. But this is because I am living HERE and NOW. Before the disciples were known as saints, they were far from perfect, the "men of little faith." They denied and abandoned the Lord at His moment of crisis. But they knew that Jesus is the real Superman, the Son of God. There's not enough libraries in the world to record ALL of Jesus' magnificent miracles. Jesus spoke of a time when God will transform us in His likeness. God knows our weaknesses, and wishes to save us. Always. God wants to hear us say "Lord, save me!" more times than he hears "Superman, help me!" or "I can do it myself!"
We will someday be freed from our present selves and be like Jesus, the real Man of Tomorrow. Until then, we put on our Clark Kent glasses, and wait.
