In ROTS, when Yoda finally realizes the true identity of Emperor Palpatine, he goes to confront Darth Sidious. After they trade Force lightning and Force shoves, they draw their lightsabers.
Darth Sidious claims, “Darth Vader will become more powerful than either of us.”
To which Yoda simply replies, “Faith in your new apprentice, misplaced may be. As is your faith in the dark side of the Force.”
The Emperor, like many people, put his faith in the wrong place. His faith was in Vader and the Dark side. Yoda’s implied faith was in the Light side of the Force.
Today, people put their faith and trust in a great many things, most of which will let them down. People put faith in humanity (family, friends, celebrities), sports teams, employers, politicians, church, wealth, educational degrees, and certifications.
This list contains many good things. The issue is they can and will fail us. What did not make this list that people put their faith in? Faith in God.
Family and friends are good, but Proverbs 18:24b tells us that “there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
Mark 4:19 tells us, “the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.”
The Church can be a blessing in our lives if done correctly and with the correct motives. Being part of a local body of believers is commanded in Hebrews 10:25, where believers were told to meet together. Yet if our faith is in the people and not in the reason for meeting together (to celebrate and worship God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit), Church will let us down.
We are reminded in 1 Timothy 4:10 that our hope and faith should be set on the living God and in Jesus, the Savior of all people. Live in that faith today and every day.
