SUPERMAN DOESN’T NEED A SEATBELT

By Dr. M. R. Dowler

Whether you’re a sports fan or not, most adults know who Muhammad Ali is. Ali died this past June at the age of 74 after a courageous thirty-year long battle with Parkinson’s disease. Muhammad Ali is professional boxing's only three-time heavyweight champion (1964, 1974 and 1978); and Sports Illustrated named him as the greatest athlete of the twentieth century. But despite Ali’s phenomenal boxing accomplishments, the thing that most people remember him for is his funny and sometimes arrogant rhyming trash talk. Muhammad Ali was definitely one-of-a-kind.

Years ago, while flying to an engagement, Muhammad Ali’s flight encountered turbulence caused by a storm. As the airplane began to toss about, the pilot informed all on board of the situation and ordered all passengers to fasten their seat belts. Everyone on the flight complied except Ali. When the flight attendant politely asked Ali to comply with the pilot’s order; he arrogantly responded, “Superman don’t need no seatbelt.” Not missing the irony of the moment the flight attendant replied, “Superman don’t need no airplane either.”

Anthropology is a scientific and theological term defined as study of humans. God created man in His own image (Genesis 1:27), although we do not know what His image is. The Bible tells us that part of God’s image is moral uprightness (Ecclesiastes 7:29; Ephesians 4:24). Theologically, the only true humans were Adam and Eve before the fall; and the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:7; Colossians 1:15). Simply stated, since the fall, all others (you and I) are a mere corrupted and distorted likeness of the original.

Humans are the crown jewels of God’s marvelous creation (Psalm 139:14), created with intricate design, detail and purpose; but not created for our benefit, but rather for His pleasure and glory (Isaiah 43:7; Revelation 4:11). We inherit part of His likeness through creation; and some receive more of His likeness through salvation and consecration (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18). Muhammad Ali accomplished great feats, but he was no Superman. Neither are we. Think about it.