Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” (Revelation 5:13, NIV)
God is no mere superhero.
Two recent quotes lead me to believe there is a prevailing perception God is considered a superhero. A famous actor recently asked “the man upstairs” for certain things in his life. He then said the two of them “came to an understanding.” Separately, I heard a woman say she talked to the “big guy” regarding some problems she was having. Pondering each statement prompted me to doubt if they even knew God. He is not a mere cosmic superhero or genie who immediately grants our whimsical requests or swoops in to rescue when beckoned.
As we hear stories and watch movies of mythical crusaders and fairy-tale champions, a real danger lies in superimposing their qualities onto God. Mythical heroes have unique, personal weaknesses as well as secret love interests. Most use their supernatural power in anger; some have emotional struggles. We tend to humanize them to make them more relatable while also dreaming of having super powers ourselves.
However, when we treat God as a “good ol’ buddy pal” who walks lock-step with us no matter our lifestyle, we erode our view of His righteousness and holiness. We lose sight of His sovereign power and unmatched majesty. Yet, our puny attempts do not diminish Him in the least. He remains the formidable, omnipotent Creator of all who holds everything in the palms of His hands.
The Great I AM
- Has no weaknesses to be exploited – He is unchangeable, fierce, and all powerful (Isaiah 43:13).
- Holds no secret love interests – He boldly proclaims His love for every person in the world (John 3:16).
- Does not overwhelm with power or anger – He patiently persuades with unconditional love (Revelation 3:20).
- Has no emotional struggles – He woos every human heart in His desire to have an intimate relationship with everyone who acknowledges and accepts Him (Jeremiah 31:3).
- Sent Jesus to be “God with us” – He is fully relatable and empathetic with every facet of human life (Hebrews 4:15).
No, God is no mere cosmic superhero. He is the great I AM who has no equal. As such, He remains untamed by our attempts to change Him to our humanistic preferences. He alone is worthy of all honor, glory, worship, and praise.
May your prayer today be: “Father God, refresh my perspective of who You are. Restore to me the reverence, awe, and fear of Your majesty, holiness, and overwhelming power.”
