Mr Clean and other superheroes

I’ve heard recently that super hero movies gross more at the box office than any other type movies.  I haven’t verified this information, but as I like super hero movies very much, it sounds like it could be true…

Superman was the most popular superhero of my childhood.  He could fly faster than a speeding bullet, was stronger than a locomotive, and could leap tall buildings with a single bound.  He always rescued the people who were in danger.  He was good.  Now there are multitudes of superheroes saving the planet with incredible powers.

Personally, I believe Mr Clean should have been given superhero status.  I know he was never featured in a full length movie or even a comic book, but think about it.  When he showed up he used his super powers to make everything sparkle!  (As a young girl, I loved those commercials!)  He could empower the woman of the house to be able to make one effortless swipe and every greasy mess was gone.  And not only that, she wasn’t tired or dirty when it was all done in a flash.  Every house in which he was taken had a perfectly white kitchen with large, very clean windows through which beautiful beams of sunlight caused all to glisten.  It was never rainy or gloomy when Mr Clean was in the house.  It was always sunny and perfect.  Even with all the good Superman may have done, he often left quite a mess behind!

As we grow into adulthood, many of us still think it would be really cool to have super powers.  And quite honestly, we live as if we are supposed to have them.  Many a mother has pushed herself to utter exhaustion trying to be SuperMom.  Many a father has missed the joy of family life while working hard to be SuperProvider.   Many a believer has bypassed true fellowship with others while busily serving at church, striving to be SuperChristian.

More times than not we find ourselves defeated and discouraged, lacking the strength to overcome even the smallest challenges thrown our way.  We give up our dreams of power and might and resign ourselves to the limitations of being a mere human, defenseless against the world.  With all the good we try to do, we often leave quite a mess behind.

But what if we are just looking at it the wrong way?  What if the desire to be more than human is planted in us by God Himself?  What if He’s already given His children supernatural powers?  What if it isn’t that we lack super human abilities, but that we simply do not believe in what we’ve already been given?

“May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the Holy Spirit…Now to Him Who, by the action of His power that is at work within us, is able to carry out His purpose and do superabundantly far over and above all that we dare ask or think – infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes or dreams – to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever.”                     Ephesians 3:16, 20-21

When we look at ourselves, even as Christians, and expect to be powerful, we fail.  But when we grasp that Almighty God lives inside of us and we begin to focus on Him working in us – we lay hold of the supernatural power to live victorious lives!  We let Him have His way in us and amazing things begin to happen – we begin to be what He already said we were – overcomers in this life!   More than conquerors!