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Topic: Heroes (03/08/04)
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TITLE: Geeks and Trekkies Rejoice! By Dave Wagner 03/09/04 |
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For the rest of us, unless we are rich enough to afford plastic surgery, we simply have to deal with the appearance God gave us, and gussy ourselves up to a level that we feel comfortable with. However, there remains a splinter group that gives up altogether, figuring “why bother?” Among the “why bother” group lives those that I like to call the “geeks and trekkies.”
Members of this group are most comfortable in front of a computer, or some place behind the scenes, away from people. Their fashion sense is either non-existent or hopelessly behind the times. They have given up on trying to make themselves visually acceptable to society, and have decided instead to dive into fantasy worlds, such as science fiction and “fantasy” stories, involving fantastic creatures, different races of beings and magic/advanced technology.
Everyone has an inherent need to belong, to be accepted. When the world out there does not accept us, we long for some place that will. That is why “other worlds” are so appealing to the geeks and trekkies – in space, it doesn’t matter what you look like: anyone can be a hero.
This crowd is big on comic book Superheroes. Created by geeks for geeks, Superheroes are generally tormented souls, outcasts, misfits, gifted with incredible abilities, but feared/revered and generally misunderstood. They usually have suffered some sort of incredible trauma that compels them to act out. All of this makes them appealing to geeks and trekkies, since in many cases, they can relate at some level, being, in the least, an outcast due to appearance alone. Too fat, too skinny, too short, too tall, too odd-looking, possessing some unappealing outward flaw or behavior. Not pretty enough, strong enough, normal enough.
Someone should introduce them to Jesus.
By definition, Jesus is the greatest Superhero that has ever existed – and He is not fictional. Think of all that Jesus did while walking the earth: transforming water to wine, raising the dead, walking on water, multiplying food, casting out devils, healing the sick, blind and broken, knowing the thoughts of peoples minds, giving hope to those that heard Him - not to mention all that He did through people in the Old Testament and the Book of Acts. He was an outcast, tormented, traumatized, misunderstood. He rose from the grave, He created all things, He has all power in Heaven and Earth, and has a Father Who possesses a limitless imagination. In short, He is a towering, unstoppable, irresistible, unfathomably amazing force.
Let me take this a step further:
John 14:12: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
How appealing is the thought of living in Jesus to such an extent that He could move through you to perform greater works than those listed in the scriptures? Is it really possible to live in this life, in the real world (not fantasy) and perform the works of God, on par with (and greater than) those in the scriptures? Does Jesus really mean “greater works”? Again, recall all that He did…now try to imagine deeds that are greater. Now imagine yourself doing them. Is this too rich for your blood?
Do I dare suggest that any of us could truly become a hero? The availability of such a deep relationship with Jesus is a reality, if the scriptures are to be believed. The possibilities of such a relationship are as mind-boggling as the costs. It requires a life patterned after Jesus, who never said anything He didn’t hear the Father saying, or did anything He didn’t see the Father doing. That level of surrender is tremendously unappealing to people that wish to cling to comfortable, risk- and cost-free lives.
But if you have a sense of adventure, a burning love for King Jesus, and an ability to truly believe that ‘with God all things are possible’, then sit back, buckle up, and prepare to experience life as it was meant to be. Geeks and trekkies rejoice! What you are searching for is available in King Jesus, and in spades at that.