“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:6-8
Few movies have had an impact on the world like Star Wars. The original movie, Episode IV – A New Hope, opened in theatres on May 25, 1977. It was the birth of one of, if not the most successful movie franchise in history. To be clear, I am a big Star Wars fan. I love the movies, I love the new TV shows, I love the toys.
There are many reasons to enjoy the Star Wars movies. The special effects and the exciting story lines are just two reasons so many people love these shows. They are great entertainment. They are a wonderful escape from our daily lives to a galaxy far, far away. There is another reason, perhaps a little closer to all our hearts, that I believe draws so many people to this franchise. The heart of the Star Wars saga is hope. Star Wars reminds us that no matter how dark and difficult our current circumstances may be, there is always a reason for hope.
Star Wars features one of the most well-known villains in movie history…Darth Vader. His is an iconic bad guy. Darth Vader is powerful and cruel. The massive army and weaponry at his disposal make him feared by all. As iconic as the character of Darth Vader is, he is often defeated by the most unlikely of characters. Untrained and ill-equipped people, like Luke Skywalker, stand up to the larger-than-life villain and provide hope for all.
Today, May 4, is Star Wars Day. It is a celebration of all things from the Star Wars universe. I think today is also a good day to remember the gift of hope that we find in our faith. In Paul’s letter to the Romans he writes, “at just the right time, when we were still powerless…Christ died for us.” This sacrificial act, that leads to the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus, brought hope to the world. We do not need lasers, the force, lightsabers, intergalactic spaceships (although these things are cool) to have hope. The God of all creation is our hope today.
May the 4th be with you…
– Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
