Star Wars and Winning the Battle of Dark vs. Light
May the Force be with you.
If you know nothing else about Star Wars, you probably know this popular phrase from the science fiction franchise. It means “good bye and good luck.”
But die-hards know the Force is more complicated than a whimsical saying. This invisible power can go either way: dark or light. Anakin Skywalker, once a heroic Jedi Knight, turned to the dark side of the Force and became the infamous Darth Vader. His son, Luke, used the Force for good under the tutelage of Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi and defeated his dad’s Galactic Empire.
The legend of the victorious Jedi Knight lingers in the new Star Wars: The Force Awakens. It’s nothing more than a myth to newcomer character Rey, but adventurer Han Solo experienced it. “It’s true,” he says in the movie. “All of it. The dark side. A Jedi. They’re real.”
It’s true. All of it.
And it’s true in your life, too. All of it. There’s a dark side, a hero and a decision you must make.
Right now, even as you read this, there is a very real battle for your soul. Satan, chief of the dark side, tempts and haunts. He dispatches demons, his own version of Stormtroopers, to carry out his “steal, kill and destroy” mission outlined in the Bible (John 10:10). Even if he can’t get you to pledge to evil, he doesn’t want you spending time in the light where you can threaten his fading empire.
But good isn’t in a galaxy far, far away. It’s right here. God is the ultimate good, and He extends His loving hand in the midst of the chaos, offering an eternity with Him in heaven. And instead of a fleet of minions, God dispatched the greatest victor—Jesus Christ. He is the hero in the story.
He can also be the hero in your life story if you let Him. May the true Force be within you today.
Step 1 – God’s Purpose: Peace and Life
The Bible says:
“We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Romans 5:1
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16
“I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
John 10:10
Step 2 – The Problem: Our Separation from God
The Bible says:
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Romans 3:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6:23
The Bible says:
“There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.”
Proverbs 14:12
“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.”
Isaiah 59:2
Step 3 – God’s Bridge: The Cross
The Bible says:
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.”
1 Timothy 2:5
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.”
1 Peter 3:18
Step 4 – Our Response: Receive Christ
The Bible says:
“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
John 1:12
“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 10:9
Here is how you can accept Christ into your life:
- Admit your need. (I am a sinner)
- Be willing to turn from your sins. (Repent)
- Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and rose from the grave. (Be saved by faith)
- Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to control your life through the Holy Spirit. (Receive him as Lord and Savior)
"Dear God, I know I’m a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe that He died for my sin and that you raised Him to life. I want to trust Him as my Savior and follow Him as Lord, from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do your will. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen."
Did you pray this prayer?