Heroes, Heroines, and the Holy Spirit

I want to be a hero. I love the story lines of the unassuming and unnoticed guy who is capable of tackling any obstacle in order to save the day. Even better, these heroes usually have a hot to quite hot girl who plays a significant role in their heroism. She's often in trouble and he, just as often, seems to be in the right place at the right time. She's often the only one who knows his true identity, making the bond between hero and hottie even stronger. She's often the motivation behind his greatest triumphs--one glimpse of her in need is all he needs to crank up the hero-juice just enough to once again be the hero.

Wait a minute...who's the hero again? Is it the guy smashing up the town with the villians, or is it the girl who is motivating him? Something I had failed to see before, is how the girl in the hero's life is actually his hero--or rather, his heroine. This stood out to me as I watched the Incredible Hulk. When Dr. Elizabeth Ross jumped on the Hulk during Mr. Blue's antidote party, I was jealous. She put her life on the line in an attempt to save Bruce, and I thought--"I want that." I don't just want someone to save...I want someone who will save me too. I wish I had a girl who had my back: track me down in the rain, give me some cash for a bus ride, and buy me some purple stretchy pants. Well, I could do without the pants...but the point is, I realized that as much as I want to be a hero, I want to have a hero.

Then it struck me...I do have someone who plays that role in my life. It's not a hottie, however. It's the Holy Spirit. If I'm looking for a hero, I have to look no further than the part of the triune God who lives inside of me. As believers, we have the Holy Spirit living in us. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? (I Cor 6:19). I act like I don't know this--far too often for being a veteran believer. When am I going to stop looking for someone to save me and start looking to the One who already has? When am I going to realize that everything I need or want can be supplied by the Source that lives within me? Whenever I do, I'm confident that I will find the true satisfaction--the true salvation--for which I've always craved.

There is a Hero living inside of me... If I latch on to that reality, there is nothing worthwhile that I won't be able to do, and there is nothing that I will crave but loving Him more and bringing Him glory.