STAR WARS (1977)

Directed by: George Lucas
Written by: George Lucas
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher
Rated: PG

About the film:
A young farm boy is swept into a galactic adventure as he teams with a renegade space smuggler and a pair of androids to rescue Princess Leia who has been taken captive by the evil Imperial Forces. Once the princess is safe, they must then defend the galaxy against the evil invaders.

Movie Quote:
“The Force will be with you… always.”
Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) in Star Wars (1977)

Bible Quote:
“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)

Commentary:
Obi-Wan offers words of encouragement to the young untested farm boy who will grow into becoming a great Jedi knight. How does the “Force” of which he speaks relate to our lives?

The word that leaps out to me in the quoted phrase from the movie is “always.” We hear that word so often being used by men who disappoint that perhaps it has lost some of its impact. The word literally means “at all times” or “in every instance.” When referring to the presence of God in our lives, it is a word that carries great import.

God is always with us. No matter where we go, He is with us. Every time we turn to Him, He is there. Every time we speak to Him, He hears us. He walks before us, showing us the way; He walks beside us, giving us strength; He walks behind us, supporting us and encouraging us to continue. Most importantly, He dwells within us, filling us with His love and His strength and His power.

His promise to us is that He will never leave us nor forsake us. It is a promise that He has always kept to those people who love Him.

Always.

Questions to consider while watching the film:
1. How does Luke’s struggles to trust and use “the force” compare to our learning how to trust and use the power of holy spirit?
2. Han Solo undergoes a radical change of character during the course of the film. Why? What does that say about how our lives might affect our unbelieving friends and family members?

Michael Elliott
www.screensermon.blogspot.com