Superman played by Christopher Reeve in the movies; Mr. Reeve after his accident; Joni Eareckson Tada
SUPERMAN DIED YESTERDAY
Christopher Reeve, the Superman actor who was paralyzed in a tragic horse accident in 1995, unexpectedly died of a heart attack yesterday at the age 52. May the LORD bring comfort and healing to his wife, three children, parents and all who loved him, drawing each one to Jesus. Sadly, I read nothing at his website about God or faith, and only the Lord knows where he is spending eternity. Mr. Reeve was a strong advocate of the controversial spinal stem cell research which he believed is most effective when using the stem cells of embryos. However, many people, including myself, have SERIOUS CONCERNS about the morality of using tissue which has the ability to become another human life. In the US, this type of research is pretty much banned but not totally and world wide researchers are fighting for this. Mr. Reeve played a leading role in trying to get the US ban completely lifted.

Now, let me introduce another quadrapalegic: Joni Eareckson Tada who at 17 years in 1967 became paralized as well, but in a diving accident. Read her amazing story here. Joni says, "The Christopher Reeve Research Foundation aggressively promotes research using stem cells derived from human embryos that are clones or frozen discards from fertility clinics. But I want people to know that not all Americans with disabilities believe in using human embryos.... The need to find innovative therapies that have a potential for profit fuels the biotech research engine. Cutting-edge therapies attract scarce research dollars. That means tough ethical questions take a back seat. The result is a flurry of reports about embryos holding the key to future cures. In reality, no researcher has tested a therapy using stem cells from a human embryo in a human patient." (Read more from Joni here "The Threat of Biotech" article)

Yes, Superman's death is a prophetic picture of the flesh or human effort that must must die because we need to trust Jesus alone. Proverbs 3 tells us to trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean NOT on our own understanding. In 2 Chronicles 32, Hezekiah encouraged the people with, "Be strong and courageous! Don't be afraid of the king of Assyria or his mighty army, for there is a power far greater on our side! He may have a great army, but they are just men. We have the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles for us!" And in 2 Corinthians 12, Paul writes what the Lord told him after he asked three times for a "thorn" to be removed: "My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness." Paul then wrote, "So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me." AMEN!