If you are like me, whenever there is the latest epic movie of good verses evil in the theaters, I’m there. If it’s a movie that I feel won’t compromise my values, that has a great story, interesting characters and of course some good old fashioned action, count me in. Just give me my large popcorn and my large cherry slushee and I’m good to go. One of my favorites of course is the Star Wars franchise. I always get excited when the latest one comes up. No, I’m not one of those who camps out in front of the theater on opening weekend in my sleeping bag and Darth Vader pajamas! Please, are you kidding me? That would be ridiculous. No, I’ve got some decency. I wear Luke Skywalker pajamas. Come on, you actually think I’d wear pajamas that represent the dark side? Anyway, speaking of the dark side, when you watch these movies, there is always a moment usually in the beginning of the third Act, where it seems that the dark side, or the bad guys are closing in. It seems like all is lost and hopeless for the good guys as evil reigns supreme. And we sit on the edge of our seats wondering, how will the good guys bounce back? Is there any hope for survival? And of course, when it seems like there is no way out, enter the hero, the Luke Skywalker who steps in at the right time and saves the day, defeating evil and rescuing the planet from destruction in the nick of time. We then leave the theater feeling all is right with the world, forgetting when just a moment ago, we were entrenched in fear, screaming at the screen in panic mode thinking, this is not going to end well. You know, sometimes in life we can get this way too. We can feel so overwhelmed by all the evil in this world that we start to feel things are so hopeless that we forget there is a happy ending coming to this story. We watch the news and see a country so divided, from race riots, to school shootings, to the latest terrorist attack. Evil seems to get the upper hand. Maybe in our personal lives we’re seeing the effects of sin and evil permeating our marriages and destroying our families and we find ourselves on the edge of our seats hoping this nightmare would just be over. Perhaps for you it’s gotten so bad that you want to withdraw from friends and those who love you and just close out the world just to escape the pain. But my friends, remember who the storyteller is, He is on our side. I was reading in Revelations where John is on the island of Patmos and he has these dreams about the final days on earth. He has visions of Satan, the Anti-Christ and his minions permeating their evil agenda across the globe and it looks hopeless, it looks bad. In chapter 5, he sees God the father holding in His hand the seven sealed scrolls. Inside them is written God’s ultimate plan to bring justice for God’s people but no one was found worthy to open the scrolls. No one and John began to weep with great sorrow in his heart, feeling overwhelmed that all was lost. But an elder tapped his shoulder and gently reminded him that there is one and His name is the Lion of Judah, the Lamb that was slain, Jesus Christ. And Jesus came forward and took the scrolls and opened them and everyone began to worship proclaiming His rule and reign over the earth. What an amazing encouragement this is for us, that when it seems like evil has the upper hand in our world and in our personal lives, let’s remember to cling to the hope and victory we will one day share when our Savior returns to us. I love the fact that He is called both the Lion and the Lamb. The significance of Him being our Lamb is that hope and victory can be recieved today because He has already defeated Satan on the cross and the importance of Him as the Lion means there is a final and lasting hope for tomorrow that we can look forward to.  Do you find yourself on the edge of your seat because the Empire has struck back? Remember, God’s the one who holds the scrolls in His hands. He wrote the script and in this story, we are the good guys and the return of our Jedi has a name, His name is Jesus, the Lion of Judah, and He is coming back to settle the score once and for all. So, what are you waiting for? Turn off the cell phone, pop some corn, sit back, relax and enjoy the coming attractions.

Revelation 5:9-10

And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth.”