Today’s
Scripture Reading (December 23, 2015): Judges 3
Christmas 2015 will most likely be remembered for giving us
what I understand is “the greatest Star Wars since the original.” Or maybe the
sequels, or more importantly the prequels, were so bad that it just makes this
movie look as good as the original (To be honest, I have enjoyed all of the
previous six Star Wars Chapters, but there was something special about the
first one – or is that the fourth one – it is so confusing.) In four days I
will find out for myself – the tickets are purchased and the family is ready to
go and see “The Force Awakens.” But in recent days the internet has been alive
with nostalgic pieces about the science fiction franchise – from things you
didn’t know about the franchise to how much money the various participants in
the franchise have made off of Star Wars (and an interesting piece on Disney’s
refusal to be involved in the original movie project for a pittance of what
they had to pay to get the rights to make episode seven.) But maybe one of my
favorites was a countdown of the best villains of the franchise. If you missed
the list you can find it here along with their descriptions of the villains –
but basically this is what they came up with –
#10 Greedo
#9 General Grievous
#8 Jango Fett
#7 Count Dooku
#6 Jabba the Hutt
#4 Boba Fett
#3 Grand Moff Tarkin
#2 Emperor Palpatine
#1 Darth Vader
Villains are always a lot of fun – well, at least they are in
our entertainment. A good movie, or television show, or a good book all depend
on a good bad guy. They set of the tension for all that will happen next.
But in real life, the villain is never good – and never
needed. But the reality is that the top villain in life is also very
controllable – because he is me. I don’t need to look any further than myself
to find the bad guy in my life. Oh, there have been others that have been
pebbles in my shoes, but when it comes right down to it the bad guy, the one in
control of what is good and bad in my life has always been me. I might want to
blame others, but I was the one who set up the conditions for the negative
moments in my life. It has always been that way.
The book of Judges is all about the cycle of bad and good in
the lives of Israel during this point in history. Bad things happened, and God
sent a judge to free the people, and for a while things went good, but then
they fell apart and went back to bad again until the next time that God would
send his judge. But the reason for the bad had nothing to do with a lack of a
leader or the designs of the enemies of Israel against the fledgling nation –
and everything to do with the bad guy inside the people of Israel herself. They
were the ones who did evil in the sight of God. They were the ones who chose
the idols of the land over the living God. They did it. We like to pretend that
Satan is the number one villain, but even he falls short of that spot – because
Geraldine Jones was wrong – the devil can’t make me do anything.
It is Christmas. And we need to remember the words of the
angel – “he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). It is the promise that we
all need to hear. The child of the manger has come to save me – from me.
And that is the truth of Christmas.
The Real Number One Villain
in my life – He is Me
Tomorrow’s
Scripture Reading: Judges 4
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