The Devil and Anakin Skywalker

SPOILER WARNING!

if you have not seen the Star Wars series, and you wish to do so, stop reading now!

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This weekend, we rented the first three Star Wars DVDs. My daughter likes Jar Jar Binks. Well, I think he was put there to keep the kids happy as Mom and Dad watched a good movie.

When Star Wars first came out, I was a Han Solo fan. Yeah, Luke was the hero, but I liked Solo. Yeah, Darth Vader was cool, but I liked Solo. All that changed when I grew up and George Lucas offered us the 'prequels'. I watched 'cuz I wanted to see how Darth Vader got in the suit. What I got was a life lesson that continues to haunt me.

Anakin Skywalker was a good kid. Born of a virgin (part of the story I have issues with, but I'll overlook that for this discussion), Anakin was stronger in the Force than any living Jedi. We would say he was more spiritual than anyone. But, as I have found, spirituality does not mean you are a good person. Anakin, as a boy, was good. "He gives to others without thought of reward."

When he began to be recognized for his abilities, however, he began to feel pride. The pride led to jealousy since he wasn't recognized as highly as he thought he should be. The one person that did recognize him was someone who just wanted to use him. A guy named Palpatine, a 'Sith' lord, was Lucas' version of Satan.

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

- 2 Peter 2:1-3

Just as Satan rejected God in his search for power, Palpatine rejected good in his search for power. Satan pulls his most effective workers from the pews. Palpatine plucked his recruits from the ranks of the good Jedi Knights - the galactic defense squad. Satan twists truth and logic to make evil appear good. Palpatine did the same.

Anakin Skywalker, obsessed with his forbidden love, believed that she would die if he didn't take steps to prevent it. Enter Chancellor Palpatine. With a lie, he begins to plant the seed that would undo Anakin's goodness. "You can save her life, if you bow down to me." With that, Anakin rejects his vow to the Jedi and becomes evil. He becomes Darth Vader.

How he gets in the suit is now immaterial.

Anakin rejected the Jedi in much the same way many of us reject God. We are trying to find our own way to fix things that are best left in God's hands. Yoda tells Anakin, "Death is a part of life." We must believe that what God is doing needs to be done. We must believe that God is guiding us into His path. And, we must allow it to happen.

Oh, and don't forget that Anakin repented at the end of the series (which came out before the beginning...). He knew he couldn't kill his own son, even though the devil told him to do it. So, he destroyed the evil that had twisted his mind.

Have you rejected the Lord in favor of doing it your way? It's not too late to ask for His forgiveness, and that's all you have to do is ask.

If you'd like to talk about it, let me know.