The Deception of the Dark Side

 

I was a teenager when Stars Wars first appeared on the big screen. I remember being in awe of the cinematography and special effects. The youngsters of today look at that movie and laugh at the special effects. But, at that time, we had never seen anything like it, so back off youngsters (saying this in my best Adam Sandler voice). Lol

As many from my generation, I was hooked on Star Wars from that point. However,  some how the 2005 movie "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" escaped my attention. I guess that was a busy year. How did I miss it on TNT or on a long flights to and from Asia? 

Whatever happened, I made amends a few nights ago and watched it on TNT. The movie focuses on Anakin Skywalker's transformation into Darth Vader. As I watched it something immediately jumped to my attention. The Darkside in Star Wars is an excellent example of the dark forces of Satan.

Before you Star War fans get upset, I'm not trying to compare Star Wars to Christianity. I don't think that was the point George Lucas set out to make. There's actually more dualism in the series than anything else.

Young Anakin was supposed to be the "Chosen One" who would bring balance to the Force. Obi-Wan Kenobi trained him in the way of the Jedi. Things were going well. Anakin was learning and the Force was strong within him. He discovered his wife was pregnant and they were excited about the future.

That's when things started going in a different direction. Long story short, he becomes friends with Chancellor Palpatine. During that time, Anakin dreams about his wife dying during childbirth just as he dreamed about his mother.

Palpatine started planting seeds of deception in Anakin's mind. He began separating Anakin from his mentor and those on the Jedi counsel. He planted seeds of doubt in Anakin's mind about their commitment to him. Palpatine then reveals that he is on the Dark Side and he can give Anakin the power to save his wife's life.

As we know, Anakin succumbed to the lure of power and joined the Dark Side and became Darth Vader. His wife does die during child birth, and Palpatine, who is now Darth Sidious, tells Vader that he killed his own wife. Deception leads to death ... both physical and spiritual. 

What jumped out at me was how evil can look so good and lure us into its trap. Satan can make sin look so appealing. If we allow deceptive thoughts to enter our minds we start to focus on them until they consume us. Then we're trapped.

Satan has many weapons of deception at his disposal - lies, money, power, sex, drugs, and alcohol just to name a handful. Our appetites can quickly change to desire those things, which will eventually destroy us. Do not be deceived. Satan's desire is to destroy as many of us as he can. 

"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour," God warns us through the Apostle Peter in 1 Peter 5:8. Once we slip into the darkness, we begin a journey to eternal destruction.

However, there is a way out, and it's the only way. His name is Jesus. We read in Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Jesus will bring us into the light as He is in the light. "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." 1 John 1:7

Luke, Darth Vader's son, eventually saves his father by turning Vader back to the Light Side just before Vader dies. That's Hollywood. What I'm talking about is reality. We have a choice. Do we want Light or Darkness? Life or death?

"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." - Romans 10:9-10

I encourage you to confess Jesus as your Lord and believe God raised Him from the dead and be saved today. Heaven and Hell are both real, and those are the only destinations after this life. Heaven is eternal life. Hell is eternal destruction, which will be thrown into the Lake of Fire for eternity. I pray you will choose Jesus, therefore choose life. You can also click on the following link to a page on our website for more information, https://loveinactionministries.com/follow-jesus

If you have any questions or if you made that decision today, please email me at ken.tuck@loveinactionministries.com

Jesus loves you. He loves us all, and He wants to spend eternity with each one of us.