The Truth Behind Star Wars

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.