Sidekick

 

I could just not help but think that there was a biblical lesson to be learned from a fabulously funny family movie that just came out this week: Sky High.  Going into the movie, I thought that this was going to be a cheesy, class B-er...but it wasn't---it was pure fun for 2 hours.  Just ask Dan Clemens.

 

Anyway, I will not spoil this movie for any of you as I will only slightly talk about it, but then, only the things that were shown in the previews.

 

When the kids in the movie go to 'Sky High', they are assigned to be either a Hero, or a Sidekick, depending upon what power they can demonstrate.  Hilariously funny way this is done, especially with the 'CAR!!!!!'.   In our life, we can be either, depending upon what 'powers' we have been given by God.  We are all very familiar with the passages that discuss talents given to each of us, and basically what the movie is about, is using these powers (talents) to ward off evil.  In the movie, it was 'Royal Pain', in our lives, it is 'satan'.

 

The movie makes a point about powers being inherited, but not necessarily 'available' until a certain age (hence Sky High).  I tend to think most of our powers are also inherited...inherited from God.  It is a matter of time before these are made available to us as well.  As a child, before understanding Christ, we didn't exhibit these powers.  But once we have been baptized, these powers become more evident.  Some of us, like the lead child actor in this movie, do not believe that we have certain powers.  As a matter of a fact, a lot of us don't think we have ANY power (or if we do, we don't show it off, so to speak).  The Bible states differently.....search out the Scriptures and find for yourself the listings of talents that our Hero has put at our disposal.  Our 'royal pain', satan, needs to be stopped in his tracks.  We sidekicks need to grow our powers given to us if we plan to defeat him.

 

Being a sidekick in the movie, meant not having the superpowers as demonstrated by some of the kids, but yet, having SOME powers that might be useful in life.  I see us as being sidekicks.  We have plenty of heroes in the Bible with superpowers:  Daniel, Sampson, Jacob, Elijah, Elisha, Paul, and most certainly Jesus.  That is not an all exhaustive list, but if you look at each one of these, you will see some type of super-human power which they demonstrated.  There were, of course, plenty of sidekicks as well: Delilah, Sarah, Gehazi, early disciples....this list could go on and on, even up to us today.  We don't necessarily possess superhuman powers---we don't hear of many of us physically wrestling with an angel of God and winning.  We don't defend ourselves from a thousand men with a jawbone from a donkey.  We don't make axe heads float.  We don't cure people of leprosy, deformities, dysentery and other diseases.  BUT, we do have 'sidekick' powers.  We can help people change their lives for the better.  We can guide them toward seeking God and eventually they can also inherit the great Kingdom.  We can love people who irritate us (although a lot of times we don't, we simply get angry).  We can talk with God, who can THEN do those 'hero' things for which we ask.  And remember, talking to God in prayer, if you have faith, can make mountains move.  Maybe not physical mountains--that superhero feat is left to God, but other 'mountains' in our lives.  The mountain of lust; the mountain of self-doubt; the mountain of shyness and laziness; the mountain of hate---all these, and more, can be moved out of our sidekick lives simply by having faith in God and asking for it.

 

Roy Rogers had a sidekick.  So did Sergeant Preston.  And Quickdraw McGraw.  And Batman.  And the Green Hornet.  And the Lone Ranger.  And Lassie. And Superman.  And Jesus---we are the oft unremembered sidekicks who have extremely important roles to play.  "Hero Support" was the term used in Sky High....and what better term for us.....a supporter of our main Hero, Jesus Christ of Nazareth.  I challenge you not to waste your powers (talents) and sit idly by on the sidelines in this game of life, but to be part of the team, even if you are not the quarterback.  Be a sidekick WITH a kick. 

 

I hope you all get the opportunity to watch this movie with some friends or your children....a few of us did and we thoroughly enjoyed the quality of this movie.