The Truth behind Star Wars
by
Randy Croft
I was driving for work near Niagara Falls one day and spotted America’s favorite spot...Taco Bell. I drove around, found a parking spot, and walked in to order my two all bean patties, special sauce, onions, chesse, and pickles on a sesame seed tortilla (so to speak). Now it’s no secret that Taco Bell was a major sponsor of the Star Wars Movie: The Phantom Menace. The windows had the faces of the characters, and inside you could order little toys with your meals. One of their offerings is a cup of some of the stars...Anakin the little boy, Jar Jar Binks- the weird underworld creature, and Darth Maul- the evil Sith Lord.
Guess which one was the most popular...Darth Maul. Guess which action character was selling the most at toy stores...some shelves literally emptied the same day they received the Darth Maul action figures...in too much demand.
The interesting thing about the whole Star Wars series is that the most popular star is Darth Vador, then Darth Maul. The evil nemesis to the Empire.
Now we all know that Star Wars is just a movie...or is it. Some people are fanatic about the movies and the books, and the collectibles. Some have made a religion out of Star Wars. You know what George Lucas, the billionaire director and author said about his Star Wars movie "It’s just a movie, It’s no big deal. I don’t think it’s altogether that well-made a movie."
JUST A MOVIE?
Just a movie? Is it just a movie? Sure it is...but we are involved in a Star Wars and the arch nemesis to the empire makes Darth Vador and Darth Maul look like girl scouts. I believe that one of the greatest deceptions that will hit our world in the last days will be the belief that Satan does not really exist...Satan...just symbolic of evil, just like Darth Maul and Darth Vador. But a personal being? Nah. Couldn’t be? Prince of Darkness? Isn’t that one of those WWF wrestlers on tv?
Earlier this decade, George Barna, a well-known pollster, interviewed thousands of churches if they believed Satan was a literal being or simply symbolic of evil. Results might surprise you. Only 52% of Christians who considered themselves "Born Again" believe in a literal Satan. Half. Bible believing, born again, Christians...don’t believe in Satan.
Non-Christians do...50 million Americans are dabbling in the New Age and the occult as we speak. When I lived in Eugene area, there were more New Age bookstores than Christian bookstores...2 to 1. The Satanic Bible has sold over 600,000 copies. Heavy metal music (thrash metal and black metal included) sells millions of cd’s a year. We shouldn’t be surprised, most Christians don’t believe in Satan. My grandmother, who lives in Clackamas, OR used to live with an aunt when she was younger. Her aunt was a spiritualist and would have seances in her home...I asked my grandmother about this a couple years ago, and while she doesn’t like to talk about it...she believed that some of the things she saw and heard could not be attributed to trickery or sleight of hand.
When I was in Zambia I attended an exorcism of some spirits that were plaguing a teenage girl. I believe that what I experienced was not normal...she was definitely a different person when the experience of prayer and ministering over her was completed...
There was a popular Christian speaker, pastor and author who took a psychologist friend of his to go pray for a woman who was being harassed by Satan. Some people said she was possessed, but they went to pray for her. Before they entered her house, the psychologist said "I want you to know that I do not believe in demonic possession. This girl must be mentally disturbed."
"Well," said the pastor, "That may well be. We’ll soon find out."
As they went into the room and closed the door, the girl’s supernatural strength was soon revealed. Suddenly from her body a totally foreign voice said quietly, with a smirk on her face "We will outlast you."
The psychologist looked at the minister "What was that?"
"That is what you don’t believe in."
They spent about 3 ½ hours praying over what the psychologist didn’t believe in until that woman had freedom. Jesus believed in releasing people from spiritual bondage from the dark side...
Are we so intelligent today that Satan doesn’t need to bother with us anymore...or are the tactics of the dark side more hidden, overlooked, subtle?
Two Dangers in this Star Wars, especially concerning the Dark Side
C.S. Lewis wrote in his book The Screwtape Letters, "There are two equal and opposite errors about devils...One is to disbelieve their existence, the other is to develop an unhealthy interest in them." Where do you fall in this spectrum...too much attention to the dark side...or indifference.
I want you to look at a scripture of passage with me tonight...and it’s nothing we can be indifferent about...The book of Revelation really does point out a Star Wars...
Revelation 12:7-9
"And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. And the dragon and his angels waged war, and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him."
Do you see it...there was a Star Wars, but that battle was already fought and the dark side lost. Michael the Prince of angels defeated the dragon and his co-horts. But the cameras need to keep rolling, because Star Wars has now become Earth Wars. George Lucas-- make a movie on that..., because that is where the heat of the battle is now, and you, your friends, your co-workers, your family are all involved.
Listen to what Peter says in 1PE 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
The battle that we are in today is the same one that the new Stars Wars movie highlights.
If you’re not familiar with the basis of the new Star Wars movie: Phantom Menace-- listen. It’s about a young boy named Anakin...he was a slave boy, picked up by a couple of Jedi Knights. The Jedi are good...they follow the force- the side of good. Protect peace and harmony in the universe. Little Anakin wants to be a Jedi but a Jedi council found that he wasn’t fit to be a Jedi. The next two movies will show how Anakin makes decisions that will lead him from desiring to be a good Jedi, to ultimately becoming Darth Vador. In the movie one of the Jedi’s leans over to Anakin and said "The most powerful thing you possess is your power of choice...the choices you make will determine your destiny."
While much of the plot of Star Wars is fluff and fantasy, I found this statement a fascinating parallel to the Christian gospel. That in essence is the gospel...it’s about choice.
God had a choice to create the world...he did.
Our first parents had a choice to obey God...they didn’t.
Jesus had a choice whether to die for your sins...he did.
You have a choice whether to follow the dark side or the side of good...
The bible says in Romans 10:13 "All who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved."
Illus: Like receiving a free college scholarship. You don’t have to pay a thing. You don’t have to work an hour. All you have to do is show up for class. You have to show faith in your scholarship. You have to choose to exercise your free gift. Like God...gives you heaven for the choosing...but you have to choose to follow the Lord...He will not choose for you. Heaven is a free scholarship, but you have to show up every day and cast your
lot on the side of God.
I want to close by giving you a bible promise worth claiming as you make your choice to live for God’s Empire.
2 Tim 3:12 "Everyone who wants to live a godly life, will be persecuted." You want to be a Christian? You want to be a Jedi? You want to live for God. Then count on trials, temptations, and tribulations. An author once wrote that if life is going along smoothly for too long...drive straight home...close your door...go into your bedroom...get down on your knees and pray saying "What’s a matter God, don’t you trust me anymore?"
Everyone...everyone who wants to live a godly life will have trials...What are your trials? Job? Finances? Relationships? Kids? What are your trials...what are your temptations that you’re battling with right now...Until Jesus comes again- you will have them...but be glad, because you will not be tempted beyond what you are able...no trial or arrow from the dark side can destroy you.
I John 4:4 "Greater is He that is in You than He that is in the World."
Every day you must choose-- and the Force from Above will be with you.
