Good morning.
The Star Wars franchise has been with us for nearly 50 years. (I know, yikes! is the reply some of us give to reading that sentence.) At the core of the Star Wars epic is the matter of “the Force”. I may need to defer to my friend Tyler for an accurate telling of this, but my understanding is that all things in the universe (according to Star Wars) would be at peace if not for the conflict between the two sides of the Force. What is needed for peace to reign is balance, but the problem is that the pesky dark side insists on domination, ergo the never-ending conflict.
Some have suggested that Stars Wars is an allegory, telling us a story to present the Biblical truth of the conflict between good and evil. If that was the intention, then Lucas and his friends have missed the point.
There is an ongoing conflict between our good and righteous God and the forces of evil in our world. But it is not a contest that is in doubt. It is not a contest that reflects similarity in power and resources. In fact, it is not actually a contest at all. All things are within the will and plan of our Father God.
Why would God allow Satan and his minions to function if He is able to stop him? Because God loves us. It is within the power and purpose of God’s love for us that we be disciplined when we stray. It is within the power and purpose of God’s love to reveal the truth of His love by contrasting it against the black darkness of the enemy’s hatred.
When we think about it, the truth isn’t too hard to discern. Evil, and the resulting brokenness that comes from evil, serve the purpose of providing an excellent reason for mankind to seek the love and the salvation that is ours only through our heavenly Father by the grace of Jesus. I think it relates to the purpose that pain serves in our physical bodies. Pain tells us there is a problem and pain motivates us to seek a solution.
As for the nature of the conflict between God and Satan, we see the truth of it revealed in scripture. In Matthew 12:22-29 sheds light on the question: Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.
What is Jesus’ teaching on the question of the conflict between God and Satan? Consider a few of His points of emphasis:
- Satan’s power and presence only advances through domination. Anyone being released from a state of evil spiritual slavery can only serve to diminish his power and is therefore clearly a defeat in the battle.
- Can Satan cast out Satan? Of course not! Satan is far too insecure to willingly allow anything that would diminish his authority, even temporarily. It is not his nature to release anyone from bondage. It is his nature to squeeze harder and harder until those under attack feel that they are without hope of escape.
- How can anyone enter a strong person’s house to plunder his goods, unless they first subdue the strong person? Truly, Satan is a created being of strength, but Jesus has absolute authority over him. Why? Because Jesus is exponentially more powerful. Consider the casting out of the demon(s) as we read of it in Mark 5. The demon possessed man revealed, when asked the name of the demon, that the name was “legion”. This would indicate a group of several thousand. When these demons were confronted by Jesus, they did not go into a fighting stance looking for battle. This is their response: And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” With a single word Jesus sends them out of the man. There is no battle, no great conflict, only the Mighty commanding the demons who were relatively weak. Satan is a being of great power, but in Jesus’ analogy it is clear that he can be completely plundered by Christ. What is it that Satan values that Jesus takes from him? It is made clear in this passage. What Satan values is his power, and that power is known in the demons who serve him. When Jesus casts them out, He is “plundering” Satan, taking from him what he values.
The bottom line is this: You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4
Praise God for His victories every day!
Vern