You Are a Superhero

by Greg Quinn

May 1st, 2023

As a kid, I was crazy about comic books. From an early a day as I could read, I read comic books. I don't remember the first comic I ever got, or who I got it from, but later I remember spending all my allowance on comic books. My favorites were the superhero comics. As a young boy, I would live out life as if I were a superhero. Yes, towel around the neck for cape, fighting the bad guys (my little brothers), and protecting those that were good (my mother, my grandmother or my dog Elvis). I had Batman, Superman, Green Hornet, Hulk, Avengers, Spider Man, Aquaman, Green Lantern, Justice League, Captain America, Flash; all the great ones. I developed a great collection over the years. And my favorite was Spider Man.

I could relate to the geek Peter Parker. I hated spiders, but could relate to getting bitten by a radioactive spider and it giving me super powers. I could understand being able to climb buildings and throw webs just like the spider that bit me. All of my younger brothers will recall me pretending to throw webs on them from my wrists (Thwepp) and being beat upon by my spider-powered fists (Bam, Pow). I was Spider Man! I had his superpowers!

As I got older, comic books were replaced by other magazines and books. Guns & Ammo, Hot Rod, Field & Stream, Outdoor Life, and others replaced Bat Man, Superman, Spider Man. When I went off to college, I left my entire comic book collection to my little brother Boge. Would be worth a small fortune today had not our basement flooded in the late 70s and in it my entire comic book collection became worthless. But I still have the memories. I still remember the days of my youth when I enjoyed being immersed in the stories of the superheroes. Winning against the bad guys. Defeating Dr Octopus, Lex Luther, Riddler, Penguin, and all the other villains in the comics. Good always reined over evil. The good guys always won in the end.

Later came the Marvel and DC movies. And the original Spider Man with Tobey Maguire was among the best. Uncle Ben told young Peter before dying, "With great power comes great responsibility". 

I'm no longer 7 or 9 or 10 or 12. I'm now 65. It's been a long time since I read a comic book. And been a good number of years since I've even watched one of the film adaptations. It's been a long time since I was a "superhero". Yet, the Bible reminds us that we (yes, us mere mortals) have REAL superpowers!

Ephesians 1:19-20 (NKJV) 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, What greater power could man have than the power that rose Christ from the dead and the power that seated him at the right hand of God in Heaven?

Another translation says, "the incredible greatness of God's power made available to you". 

To whom is this power given? To us, through faith in Christ. This power is not bought or earned through good works. This superpower is given to us freely through the grace of God in Jesus Christ. As with almost every other blessing available to mankind, simple belief is the only stated requirement here. As Jesus told Jairus who had heard his little daughter had died, "Only believe" (Mark 5:36). And she was raised from the dead.

Paul prayed for the Ephesians to have a greater understanding of the divine power that was available to them through faith in Christ. Only believe. 

Maybe you cannot leap tall buildings in a single bound. Don't try to climb a wall like a spider. None of us can stop a bullet like Super Man. Standing in front of a speeding train will not end well. But, within you, within all of us "who believe", comes from God the power to do great things here on earth. Power through prayer in faith. Power to be confident in the face of peril. Power of healing through God who loves us. Power to intervene with God through Christ on behalf of others. Power of peace in times of trouble. Power to pray blessings upon people you love. 

So, use the superpowers that God has given you through Christ. If the Bible says that within us lies the same power that allowed Jesus to rise from the dead, then certainly within us "who believe" God has given us the power to overcome the evil one, the power to receive healing through faith, the power to be calm in the midst of a storm in our lives, the power to be kind, the power to love others, the power of peace, the power of a sound mind, the power of self-control. 

Ephesians 1:19-20 (NASB) 19 and what is the [a]boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,

"With great power comes great responsibility". Let's heed to the dying words of Uncle Ben to the young Peter Parker. With this great power which God has put into us who "only believe", we can pray for the healing of our nation, we can pray for the healing of ourselves and our loved ones, we can accept the peace that can only come from God, we can use the power of self-control within us, we can have joy in the face of adversity, we can accept God's great provision, we can exert faith during the trials of our lives, we can have hope when things seem hopeless, we can believe that the goodness of God will prevail in our lives, we can live lives of faith and peace, we have the power to forgive, and we can love others as God loves us. If this same power that raised Christ from the dead is within us, through faith, we have the superpower to overcome the obstacles of life and live joyously through the name of Jesus.

Pray this prayer with me. "Lord God, I come to you today in faith accepting the truth of this Scripture in my life. I believe, God, that you have put within me great power to overcome the evils of this world. I believe that, through Christ, you have given me all that I need to live a life of love, peace, health, and hope. No matter what comes upon me, Oh Lord, I trust you, and I believe that you have given me this superpower to overcome all obstacles, in Jesus Christ your Son. Amen."

Now go out and be a superhero!

Greg Quinn