A Long Time Ago in a Galaxy Far, Far Away…
Those opening words appear in each of the Star Wars movies. I've seen them all in a movie theater, and when these words begin to scroll on the screen, many times I've heard the audience applaud and if they don't, there is always a buzz of excitement and anticipation of what is to come. There are many reasons for the crowd’s excitement when a new movie in this series hits the screen, I suppose. They are good movies. There is a sense of nostalgia when we see a Star Wars movie. The writers make sure to weave familiar characters and scenes into the script. And the theme of the series is a classic battle between good and evil. And the Rebellion, the good guys, are almost always struggling as their doom seems inevitable, yet they have hope and faith and take great risks, believing against all odds that the Force will in fact be with them.
This is how the writer of Hebrews opens his letter to the persecuted church late in the first century. Rome's persecution of the early church was intense, and many in the Christian community had seen the death of loved ones due to Nero's evil pursuit of Christians. Some Christians went underground to survive. Some considered retreating back to their Jewish faith and abandoning Jesus altogether. Here is the opening line from the letter:
“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.”
Hebrews 1:1-2 ESV
Maybe it is because I just saw a Star Wars movie last week, but when I read that first sentence, I thought about how many times I have read Hebrews and didn't feel the excitement I feel when I read a similar line on a movie screen. It could be the special effects and the sound in the theater. It might be the smell of popcorn. It's fascinating to me how excited we become over things that aren't real but are created to look real. Stories are powerful, and the story in the Star Wars series appeals to the masses. We all want to feel and know that somehow, someway, evil will lose and the good guys win and all will be okay in the universe.
Here is the thing—and the writer of Hebrews is all over it. The good guys do win. Evil will be destroyed. We are the rebellion that God is using to push against the evil that is intent to destroy his creation, and the writer of Hebrews reminds us to hang on and endure the suffering, that we might one day soon know the full rest and peace of God.
Jesus is the preeminent Savior. He is greater than the prophets of old. He is greater than all the angels of heaven, and the angels know it and that is why when he appeared, they sang his praises from heaven and why they will sing again when he returns.
Jesus is our hope. He is the anchor of our souls. The beginning of advent is less than a week away. This year, when the words to the Christmas hymns appear on the screen and when someone reads the familiar advent scripture, don't just sit there. Rise up, feel the power of this truth. Lift up your voice in praise and excitement when you sing “Joy to the World.” The Lord is here. He came for us. He prepared our way. He has conquered death. His Kingdom is real. We have access to his rest and peace now.
Your Time with God’s Word
Hebrews 1:3-4, 2:1,7-9, 17-18, 4:9-12, 14-16, 5:7-9, 6:10-12, 19-20 ESV
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