What Superman Can Teach us About Temptation
The knockout, the struggle, and the one-two punch
How does kryptonite affect Superman? I guess that depends on which version of Superman you are talking about. I’ve seen my fair share of Superman series and movies. What remains consistent is that the way the man of steel handles kryptonite remains inconsistent. Each version has him reacting differently to it. I have noticed three different approaches to kryptonite and they provide a curious analogy of how we handle temptation in our lives.
The instant knockout
In some versions of Superman, kryptonite is especially potent. If it even comes within his general presence it is lights out. Boom. Done. He's on the floor like a blob of jello. We all have that temptation that is especially potent for us. It is our Achilles heel. We know, if we don't want to fall, that we need to try to avoid any chance of even experiencing this temptation.
Others may not be affected by this temptation, but we are not them. Mark and avoid. If you play with fire, you will get burned. This temptation is the one we should just be honest about and avoid at all costs.
The struggle
This is another way I have seen Superman handle kryptonite. It hurts him. It does weird things to him. It even seems to make him sick and weak. But he is able to fight through it. The kryptonite is always a major setback, but it doesn't always win.
This is probably the most common temptation experience for the Christian. Sometimes it wins over us. Sometimes we are victorious. It is always a struggle. When we win the struggle the victory is sweet. When we lose it is all the more painful. This temptation reminds us that the Christian life is a lifelong war. The war will ultimately be won, but not always the battle.
The one-two punch
Sometimes kryptonite doesn't hurt Superman at all. It simply makes him normal. He loses his powers and becomes just like any other man. It is not the kryptonite that takes him down. It's what comes next. The punch. The bullet. Something else hits him during his weakened state.
This is the temptation that is strategically placed and well-timed. In normal circumstances, we would blow off this temptation. No problem. But in our moment of weakness, when something else has worn us down, it comes in with force.
This may be the most dangerous one. It works upon our presumption because we would normally be able to resist. It finds us when we are not alert. As a result, the fall feels devastating.
Conclusion
Kryptonite is never good for Superman. It is something he should always be aware of. The same is true for temptation. We should be vigilant and watchful, always ready with our spiritual armor. Especially in our moments of weakness and with the temptations we think we have under control.
