Thomas Eric Duncan was the first person in the U.S. to die from Ebola – one of the nastiest and most frightening viruses in recent history. After Duncan was hospitalized at the Texas Presbyterian Hospital, the Dallas County Health and Human Services directory issued a statement in order to calm the public: “It is contained. There is no outbreak. And so therefore everyone should ease their fears and allow public health officials … to respond to this issue.”

At the time, everyone hoped that the virus was contained … until they learned that it wasn’t.

Have you ever noticed how pervasive music is in our lives? We listen to country music while we are washing the dishes. We listen to classic rock while driving in our vehicle. We listen to pop music in the stores. We listen to Muzak while in the elevator. Athletes create a play list to listen to in the locker room before their games. Researchers encourage us to play classical music in the nursery while our baby is sleeping. Very soon we’ll be listening to Christmas music wherever we go.

I love stories. Whether they are true stories like “Unbroken” or “Lone Survivor.” Or fantasy stories like “Lord of the Rings” and “The Chronicles of Narnia.” The artists use words to paint pictures in your mind.

I also really enjoy reading graphic novels of “Batman” or “Spider-Man” or reading children’s books like Dr. Seuss or “Skippy John Jones” because the illustrators combine words and paint in creating pictures on paper. 

I love Jesus’ stories – His parables. He is able to paint a picture with His divine words.

It is Saturday afternoon. Joey is 16. His brother, Danny, is 15. They are playing video games on their Playstation 4. Dad comes into the room because he wants some help out in the yard. He says, “Joey, can you come outside and help me clean the yard? We need to rake the leaves, clean out the flower beds, and trim the bushes.”

I am all in favor of people getting what they have coming. When people dent my car in the store parking lot or overcharge me on car repairs or make me slam on my brakes after my car has just been fixed, I fantasize – just like you – about divine vengeance coming done on them. I am all for quick and severe justice – but only on other people, of course.

While you were growing up, your father was difficult and verbally abusive towards you. Now that you are older and have children of your own, he is much softer and wants to have a relationship with you. But you keep him at arms length. He hurt you too badly to have him close to you again.

Your daughter is on the club soccer team. Your son has a part-time job after school. You’ve just received a raise and more responsibility at work. Your cancer is in remission. Your boyfriend or girlfriend wants to take your relationship to the next level. You finally have your “man cave” or your crafting room.

And the devil laughs.

The Joker is laying siege to Gotham City. New York City is under attack by Dr. Octopus and the rest of the Sinister Six. Lex Luthor has another diabolic plan to take over the world.

The people of Gotham and New York and planet Earth are helpless. They are weak victims of crimes being perpetrated against them. They are powerless to stop their enemies.

They need superheroes.

The Israelites in the book of Judges are helpless. They are victims of the mighty Philistines. They are powerless to stop their enemies.

They need a superhero.

Christian writer Greg Elder grew up along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. As a boy he used to spend long hours building intricate sand castles on the beach. One year, however, he encountered trouble. For several days in a row, local bullies came by and used their bare feet to kick down whatever sand castle he was building.

Finally this young boy had had enough. He decided to try an experiment. He started to build a sand castle as before, only this time he included cinder blocks and chunks of concrete as part of the base.

One day a farmer’s old dog fell into a dry well. He was trapped. No way out. The animal cried piteously for hours while the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, though the farmer sympathized with the dog, he decided that the dog was old and the well dry, and neither was worth the trouble of saving. So the farmer decided to bury the old dog and put him out of his misery.