Growing up as a child there were so many things that I recall that bring to mind many great memories. As they say life back then was a time of innocence.

Like most kids there were a multitude of things that I did to have fun. One thing in particular that my parents stressed was the importance of reading. Each summer my assignment was to read at least 10 books. It was important to continue to be prepared to start the school year later that summer.

While certainly doing those 10 books each summer, I also recall that one of my favorite sources of reading were comic books. I must say that at one time I had quite a large comic book collection.

There we of course many different characters from those days of my comic books.  Perhaps the most famous of all of the comic book characters was my favorite; Superman. 

Superman I am inclined to say is the most famous comic book character of all time. As we know Superman has been around it would seem like forever. He has become more than just a comic book character. As well there have many numerous television shows and movies depicting as they say the adventures of Superman.

I can still recall part of that tag line of Superman the television series. Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, more powerful than a locomotive, faster than a speeding bullet.      

Superman was the conquering hero. As the comic books and television show unfolded it seemed that nothing would be able to hinder his mission. He was invulnerable; or so it seemed.

For all of his great abilities, with his great powers Superman had a weakness. A weakness which brought him to a point of being in a lot or respects just like an ordinary person. His weakness was kryptonite.

As I go back in time and reflect back on the television shows or comic books, when Superman came in contact with kryptonite I can recall him being weakened to the point where it seemed like he would not survive. Being a child at that time I was filled with fear that this great hero would not make it. But of course in the end everything worked out.

Perspectives change with the passage of time. As it was then as a child I saw the kryptonite as that which of course impacted Superman. Now with the experience of life and a certain level of wisdom that comes via time my interpretation of what that kryptonite meant is that reminder that no matter who the person is, they will have some type of weakness.

As Christians each of us are going to experience our own kryptonite. There will be those things that will impact our daily walk with the Lord. We will experience the challenges of being able foremost to admit to ourselves that yes there are those things that are going to prove to be a particular weakness.

None of us if we are honest want to admit that we are weak. This world that we live in is very quick to paint a picture of those who are weak are to be regarded as flawed and to a certain extent to be looked down on.

These days that we are living in are such that the ongoing misconception is that we as humans are more than enough to deal with the everyday pressures and demands that life places before us. Far too many have fallen for the lie that we are our own end all be all and thus we can conquer the weaknesses and or kryptonite that is around us or within us.

The essence of being Christians in many respects comes down to not just the admission of our weaknesses but the embracing of the fact that yes we are weak and that we need the Lord.  We have learned to accept the reality that we are not able to solve and or even think about conquering those personal weaknesses that we struggle with.

2 Corinthians 12:10 shares with us that therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak then I am strong.

I am reminded also of Paul.  Paul petitioned the Lord to remove the thorn that was in his side.  Paul’s request is one that each of us have made at one time or the other.  To request of the Lord to remove that measure of weakness or kryptonite.  But the Lord’s response to Paul is one that we all have heard from the Lord as well. That His grace is sufficient for you; for His power is made perfect in our weakness.  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

We as the body of Christ are not perfect.  And yes we are flawed more than what we may want to admit to ourselves.  But in spite of that which we come against day to day, we know that where we are weak that our Lord is strong, that through and because of Him that we indeed are blessed to know that our savior is always there for us to turn to, that we can always trust in him and we can also depend on him.

To God Be the Glory

Alan T. Black