Nowadays, I can’t help but notice when watching movies that the lines between good and evil have become increasingly blurred. Decades ago, most movies illustrated values, the lines between right and wrong were clearly drawn, and good usually triumphed over evil in the end.
A movie that touched me as a teen was “Supergirl” (1984). In this movie, Kara Zor-El, also called Supergirl, is transported to Earth from Argo City in space. She is in search of an energy source called the Omegahedron. Kara’s nemesis on Earth is a woman named Selena who dabbles in the occult and dark powers. Selena is looking for nothing less than world domination. There is a struggle over the Omegahedron, which would give its owner control over all the Earth. Selena takes possession of the Omegahedron and uses its powers to further her own evil ends. There is a confrontation between her and Kara. Selena overcomes Kara and banishes her to the Phantom Zone, a prison dimension.
There Kara realizes that she has lost her supernatural powers and is a shadow of her former self. Then she meets Zaltar, who had been her mentor in Argo City and who banished himself in this zone. He encourages her to not give up. Eventually Kara rises victoriously from the Phantom Zone with all her powers restored. She returns to Earth, and after a titanic battle with evil Selena, she takes possession of the Omegahedron and returns it to Argo City where it belongs.
I see this as an analogy of the gospel. Jesus came down to Earth to redeem and bring salvation to mankind. He rejected Satan’s offer of power and wealth, and instead chose to do the will of the Father who sent Him (Hebrews 10:7). He was anointed with the power of the Holy Spirit and went about doing good and healing all those who were oppressed physically and spiritually by the devil (Acts 10:38). In the battle against evil, Jesus resisted to the point of shedding His blood on the cross and being banished to the “phantom zone”— “the heart of the earth” (Hebrews 12:4; Matthew 12:40).
However, after three days He rose triumphantly from the grave to be exalted to the right hand of the Father in heaven (Acts 2:32–33). He will one day return to the Earth in great power and authority and will destroy the forces of evil. The Earth will be restored to its rightful ruler and will be governed with fairness and justice for all (Isaiah 9:7). That is a wonderful future to look forward to!