When Luke tells Darth Vader that he accepts that Vader was once Anakin Skywalker, his father, Vader angrily responds “That name no longer has any meaning for me.” But Luke tells him that “it is the name of your true self. You’ve only forgotten.”
Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon lost sight of who he was in comparison to the LORD. In Daniel 3:28 he saw the LORD save Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fiery furnace. A verse later the king decreed “Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.”
Between the end of chapter three and the middle of chapter four, the king forgot who he was compared to the LORD and suffered for it. He had a second dream which Daniel interpreted (Daniel 4:4-27) and it came to pass in verse 31-32 when a voice from Heaven told the king “The kingdom has departed from you, and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.”
In Daniel 4:34 we see that Nebuchadnezzar was restored.
Darth Vader was also restored when he turned from his evil ways. He remembered who he truly was and the good that was still in him helped him to save Luke from the Emperor’s Force lightning.
While humanity can not redeem themselves, they are able to be redeemed. Like Nebuchadnezzar, we need to look up to God and praise him and repent (turn our mind around). Romans 10:9-10 tells us that “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.”
Join with Me to Spread the Gospel
This post is a modified version of a devotional from my upcoming devotional book.
As millions of kids, teens, and young adults face a world that is rapidly removing any trace of Judeo-Christian values from the culture, there is still hope to reach them.
The Gospel is for all people and throughout all time.
You can help the next generation learn about the Gospel by using Star Wars.
There are valuable lessons that can be learned from Star Wars. My devotional book looks at the live-action Star Wars movies (Episodes I to IX, Rogue One, and Solo) and pull out different lessons and take-a-ways.
If you wish to join me in using Star Wars to share the faith, please consider purchasing the daily devotion I am published in November 2019.
