I went and saw the new Batman movie, The Dark Knight, last night with a friend and as I was pondering the excellence of this movie this morning during my commute to work, I began to relish my long-ago love for superheros and comic books. Now granted, I am no die-hard comic or graphic novel reader as many are, but I do have an appreciation for the art. But it got me thinking about the masses of grown men and women out there that live and breath comics. The ones who go to conventions like ComicCon. That dress up to see the midnight premiere of a comic-based movie. Who are obsessed with either the genre or a particular character. That same type of devotion can also be seen towards the Star Wars franchise (for which I am a huge fan of, but not to the extent of many), the Star Trek franchise, and many other sci-fi based “worlds” out there.

What is the deal with our obsessions with cultural icons such as these?

Now if you are reading this and thinking to yourself, “I”m not one of those ”geeks””, than think again. These obsessions easily jump the median and cross-over into sports (yes, I am a Dodgers fan). How many football fans are out there that put all other things aside on the weekends when it is football season or who are involved in Fantasy Football? What about the global obsession with that “other” football game (or soccer for us Americans)? Whole groups of people have been known to trample, vandalize, or create riot-like conditions after their country’s team has lost the World Cup. Or WON it for that matter.

Okay, so you’re not a “geek” or a “jock”… What about some of the more common obsessions that go under the radar or those that people don’t generally consider an obsession. Being thin. Following the celebrity tabloids. Our careers. Our educational degrees. Money or our material possessions. Our reputations. Ourselves.

For almost all of us, if we look really good and hard, or maybe just right on the surface, we will discover that we all have an obsession in our lives. Maybe two or three. But why?

What is our obsession with having to have an obsession?

Well, the answer is really simple in fact. You see, we were CREATED to have an obsession. We were designed and created to worship. We were created and crafted to worship someone or something. That drive is ingrained in our very being. That craving to be so fixsated or focused on something is in every one of us. You and me. That nature was given to us by God. By the maker and creater of mankind and of heaven and earth. The problem is that most people don”t know this. They spend most of their lives worshipping themselves, the Oakland Raiders, Oprah Winfrey, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, MySpace, or triathlons. Anything but the One that knew them before they were even physically born into this world. That knows their thoughts, their motives, their dreams.

For those that have never read or understood the truths that are found in the Bible, this is a foreign concept. But that is the real truth to be told. The reason we were born, put on this earth, and created was to worship the Creator of the universe. It is in our subconscious. It’s what makes us tick. It’s crafted purpose was built deep down in our hearts. We were made to worship.

For those of us that are Christians, that follow Jesus Christ, that know the Bible to be the Truth, the big question needs to be asked: Are we fulfilling our purpose the way we were designed. There is a difference between doing the church-thing and labeling ourselves “believers”, and truly worshipping God with the passion that we tend to bring to other areas, hobbies, or interests in our lives. Are we truly “obsessed” with God? This is the thought that truly struck me as I reached the office this morning. It made me really look at how much “love” I have for Star Wars, the Dodgers, and my latest playlist on iTunes. Am I pouring as much heart, or more importantly, MORE heart into God and my relationship with Jesus Christ. That is the question we need to be asking ourselves each and every day. Are we obsessed with the One who made us obsessive? We need to be.