Having the Prime of My Life

A line that haunts me even today comes from Star Wars when Padame comments on the rise of totalitarianism. An emergency state is declared, and the people rejoice. “This is how democracy dies…with thunderous applause.” She foresees the real intent behind the Chancellor’s measures.

I watched a History Channel special that demonstrated the classical influence in the Star Wars adventures. In one segment, the reviewers showed a parallel between the rise of Nazi Germany and the rise of the Empire in Lucas’ saga. We see the scenario played out in history again and again.

Caesar is always ready to trounce on the weak and feeble-minded, those who place more value in immediacy than in ideology. 

I wonder what it is within our human nature that we so willingly surrender our freedoms for a false sense of security and comfort. Democracy is not a guarantee, and its preservation takes continuous diligence.  

As I ponder this, I wonder, too, if we give up on our Faith because the road is troublesome. Do we surrender our futures because we fear our present?

I sometimes think the Christian’s theme song should be, “I Beg Your Pardon, I Never Promised You a Rose Garden.” The Christian’s freedoms are indeed precious and life-changing. The Freedoms found in Christ have been bought with His blood and come with responsibility. Somehow, we think that becoming a Christian equates to a problem-free life. Not so.

Becoming a Christian guarantees overcoming. But sometimes overcoming doesn’t mean the problem goes away. Overcoming sometimes means riding above the circumstance rather than the circumstance disappearing.

Our freedom in Christ means we are not constrained by Old Testament dogma, but rather we are free to live a life ruled through the Holy Spirit, which brings us closer to the Lord’s plan for our lives.

Anyway, those are my thoughts. What are yours?

Linda