In Rogue One, the first non-Skywalker focus Star Wars film, we meet a number of characters with dubious backgrounds.
The main group was made up of Jyn Erso, Cassian Andor, K-2SO, Chirrut Îmwe, Baze Malbus, and Bodhi Rook. We have an insurgent, a murderer, a former Imperial droid, a blind thief, cynical soldier, and former Imperial pilot.
Not the most moral group of people.
In fact, Cassian admits that “Some of us – well, most of us – we’ve all done terrible things on behalf of the Rebellion. Spies, saboteurs, assassins.”
And yet this group of criminals was used to secure the Death Star plans. In sacrificing themselves, they were able to get the message out to the Alliance.
That message would spread and lead to the destruction of the Death Star, bringing hope back to the galaxy.
They weren’t the first group of criminals and sinners to be used to get a message out.
God Can and Does Use Anyone
God can and does use anyone, and even at times a donkey, to spread His message and to bring about the changes He wants.
Here is a brief list of some of the “imperfect” people that God has used in Scripture to spread God’s message.
- Abraham lied, multiple times. Genesis 12:11-13; 20:1-2
- Moses stuttered. Exodus 4:10
- David’s armor didn’t fit.
- John Mark was rejected by Paul.
- Timothy had ulcers. 1 Timothy 5:23
- Hosea’s wife was a prostitute. Hosea 1:2
- Amos’ only training was in the school of fig-tree pruning.
- Jacob was a liar.
- David had an affair.
- Solomon was too rich.
- Abraham was too old.
- David was too young.
- Peter was afraid of death.
- Lazarus was dead. John 11:1-44
- John was self-righteous.
- Naomi was a widow.
- Paul was a murderer.
- Jonah ran from God.
- Miriam was a gossip.
- Gideon and Thomas both doubted.
- Jeremiah was depressed and suicidal.
- Elijah was burned out.
- John the Baptist was a loudmouth.
- Martha was a worry-wort.
- Mary may have been lazy.
- Samson had long hair.
- Noah got drunk.
- Moses had a was murderer
- So did Peter, Paul and lots of folks.
What About You?
Do you see anything on this list that you can relate to?
If God has used people like this in the past, why do you doubt that He can use you?
We all have a story. The decisions and consequences of them have shaped us to be who we are.
We can all share the message of the Gospel and use our past to help people in the here and now.
I’ll leave you with this story that has circulated online in various forms.
The Coat Hanger Angel A woman was at work when she received a phone call that her daughter was very sick with a fever. She left her work and stopped by the pharmacy to get some medication for her daughter.
When returning to her car she found that she had locked her keys in the car.
She was in a hurry to get home to her sick daughter, she didn’t know what to do, so she called her home and told the babysitter what had happened and that she did not know what to do.
The babysitter told her that her daughter was getting worse. She said, “You might find a coat hanger and use that to open the door.” The woman looked around and found an old rusty coat hanger that had been thrown down on the ground possibly by someone else who at some time or other had locked their keys in their car.
Then she looked at the hanger and said, “I don’t know how to use this.” So she bowed her head and asked God to send her some help.
A few minutes later, a dirty, greasy, bearded man who was wearing an old biker skull rag on his head walked by.
The woman thought, “Great God. This is what you sent to help me????” But, she was desperate, so she was also very thankful.
The man noticed the distraught woman and asked her if he could help.
She said “Yes, my daughter is very sick. I stopped to get her some medication and I locked my keys in my car, I must get home to her. Please, can you use this hanger to unlock my car.”
He said, “SURE.” He walked over to the car, and in a few moments, the door was opened.
She hugged the man and through her tears, she said, “THANK YOU SO MUCH … You are a very nice man.”
The man replied, “Lady, I am not a nice man. I just got out of prison today. I was in prison for car theft and have only been out for about an hour.”
The woman hugged the man again and with sobbing tears cried out loud …
“THANK YOU, GOD, FOR SENDING ME A PROFESSIONAL!”
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Praying your cross country driving is going well! I like this post very much! The Rogue One crew sounds very much like the mix you’d get in an adventure gaming group, such as for Advanced Dungeons and Dragons RPG or the Star Wars RPG.
In fact, I made such a comment to friends when Disney started the animated series Rebels!
I know well how God uses the broken to further his message…my own life has been
a case in point. As a fan of Star Wars, I had worked long and hard on a Darth Vader costume. At one point in time my father had said he thought I was possessed by Vader. I thought that was ridiculous- possessed with, maybe, but how could someone be possessed by a fictional character? But with time I began to see his meaning. My father was naturally concerned that I my spending so much time emulating a character known for having fallen from grace and betraying all his friends and family- killing many, as well- would have a negative impact on my mind, heart and soul. And he was right to be concerned! But I always knew that Vader would turn from the dark side. Why? You’ll think I’m silly, but because of the Grinch! As a boy I’d always loved stories of redemption- the Grinch, Ebenezer Scrooge, the Little Drummer Boy! And, of course, the greatest redemption story of all!
Funny thing was, Sebastian Shaw, the actor that played Force Ghost Anakin, looked a lot like my Uncle George! But since I realized a few things, I have sworn
never to wear the dark armor again- literally or figuratively. I’ve had a few “Jedi” trainers since then helping me to find the path to the light! And working to serve the Lord of light, not the dark lord!