Chronicle: What Are You Capable of?
Man…if I had a nickel for every night that I laid awake imagining what kind of superpower would be the best for a white kid in the suburbs of Denver, I'd have like 50 nickels.
But seriously, haven't you ever had a desire to break the bonds of gravity and soar like an eagle? Or have you ever been in a room that felt awkward and you wish you could read thoughts?
Or for me, I would love to summon up crispy bacon on the spot. Also, I'd like to be able to make the toilet flush without touching the handle…but I'm a big dreamer.
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But envision for a moment if real superpowers were granted to impulsive, insecure and immature high school students. Actually you don't need to imagine, because the fakumenatry/found footage film "Chronicle" goes there and paints an interesting picture of what happens when you mix testosterone, teenage angst and terrible powers.
The first part of the film can be summed up with this tagline: "With great power comes great pranking potential."
Because if you were in high school and you discovered you had telekinetic ability, would you go out and fight crime? Of course not, you would go to the grocery store and act like you were the new characters on a show named after a donkey.
But sadly when the tricks get old and boredom sets in, there is no limit to how dark and destructive an empowered human being can get in a very short time.
Do you know what I've learned from years of reading/watching superhero chronicles? Yes, of course you wouldn't like the Hulk when he's angry, but beyond that, the fact is when people are given powers they will either become monsters or heroes. There is no middle ground.
I'm willing to wager that you are reading this right now and you have no idea that you have a legitimate superpower. But don't take my word for it - take a look at God's description of it:
It takes only a spark to start a forest fire! The tongue is like a spark. It is an evil power that dirties the rest of the body and sets a person's entire life on fire with flames that come from hell itself. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures can be tamed and have been tamed. But our tongues get out of control. They are restless and evil, and always spreading deadly poison (James 3:6-8, CEV).
Just a 2-3 ounce muscle sitting innocently in your mouth - right? And yet how many lives have been shattered, families torn apart and innocent blood shed because of the immense power of the tongue once it is set on fire with the flames of hell???
The tongue is a superpower indeed because it is a weapon that Satan has used since the Garden of Eden to unleash destruction on God's creation. People may start out with just verbal pranks, but it doesn't take long for them to feel bored and begin to fire verbal assaults that decimate the people around them.
But the good news is that the tongue is not limited to being a weapon for the dark side. It can be combined with another superpower to set people free from their spiritual prisons and change their eternal destiny!
The other superpower I'm speaking of is described this way:
For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes (Romans 1:16).
The word "power" in this verse in the original language is dunamis - from which we also get the English word "dynamite." In other words, the message that Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose again so we can be saved is a powerful and explosive message that demolishes the strongholds of guilt and fear, and sets people free to serve their loving Heavenly Father.
So now you know the truth about your "chronicle." You have a superpower called "the tongue" that can be set on fire by the powers of darkness to obliterate your friends and family - and ultimately turn you into a monster.
But your mission…should you choose to accept it…is to put out the hellfire with the Holy Spirit and release the saving power of the gospel through your words. You will see lives saved, families restored and guilty people forgiven by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. In other words, you'll be a hero.
So may God speed you in your "chronicle," my brothers and sisters…and don't forget what you are capable of!
