In-Depth Studies Blog

In The Empire Strikes Back, Luke Skywalker crash lands his X-wing fighter in Dagobah and begins his training with Yoda, the Jedi Master. His training comprises various physical and mental conditioning including using the Force to move rocks without physically lifting them. Later on, Luke needs to use the Force to lift his X-wing fighter (weighing several tons) out of the swamp it has sunk into. Luke, recognizing the feat required, says doubtfully “All right, I’ll give it a try.” Yoda emphatically retorts “No! Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.” As a Christian, I now think of this statement in terms of what it takes to be saved from God’s wrath. My Christian modification is “Do (trust in God’s grace), or do not (trust in God’s grace). There is no try (to trust in God’s grace).

Let’s examine this statement in three parts. First, there are those people who do trust in God’s grace to be saved. This group believes what the Apostle Paul says in Ephesians “Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.” Ephesians 2:3-5. Before a person is even born, he has been declared evil in the courts of heaven. This isn’t after a certain age, after he learns right from wrong, but at the instant his soul exists. Since we inherit Adam’s sin, we start out with a bad record, and because the bible tells us that our good deeds can never wipe this record clean, salvation must be by God’s grace alone. “But if it (God’s acceptance) is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. Romans 11:6.

The second part of the statement refers to those who do not trust in God’s grace. They adamantly deny the need for Christ and God’s grace. They have not been given eyes to recognize their sin and therefore have no reason to desire mercy. Examples of this group are belief systems like Buddhism, Muslim, Hinduism, New Age, Existentialism, Atheism, and a whole host of pagan religions. This group is proud to say they are not trusting in God’s grace and if there is an afterlife, they will earn salvation through their own merit. Often, these are simply the Han Solos of the world. In Star Wars Episode IV, Han Solo laughs at Luke’s Jedi training and says, “Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side.” When questioned about believing in the Force, he says “Kid, I’ve flown from one side of this galaxy to the other. I’ve seen a lot of strange stuff, but I’ve never seen anything to make me believe there’s one all-powerful force controlling everything. There’s no mystical energy field that controls my destiny. It’s all a lot of simple tricks and nonsense.” This is a popular opinion of Christianity and people especially balk at the required humility that accompanies it. In Han Solo terms, they think the Lord’s grace is no match for being wealthy, talented, beautiful, self-determining, or in any way admired in the world’s eyes.

Nevertheless, it is the third choice, try to trust in God’s grace, that so many professing believers commit to and sadly end up straddling the fence between Christianity and salvation by works. They want to hedge their bets by saying they believe in Jesus, but continue to rely on basically being a good person. Attend any church in America and you will probably find at least one person who falls into this category. I have family, friends, and acquaintances who attend church on Sundays, but show no real evidence in their lives as a whole that proves they love Jesus. “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” Matthew 7:18-20. In addition, this group frequently points to the commands of God that they keep (at least externally). These usually fall on the quite serious side of the sin spectrum, e.g., stealing, adultery, murder, etc. Interestingly enough, these commands are also the ones that society punishes people for or at least places a stigma upon. The real reason these people avoid sin is not due to a love for Jesus, but so they can remain comfortable and happy.

The main difference in the actions of true believers and false ones is the motivation for what they do. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31. Are they doing it because they have been rescued from the flames and thus they want to show gratitude by obeying this God they love? Or is it that they view themselves as, in essence, descent people especially compared to others and consequently want to prove to God, themselves, and everyone watching that they are good. It always comes down to what is your heart saying inside? Do you smile at your neighbor while cursing him inside? Do you work hard at your job just to get praises and a good raise? Do you not cheat on your taxes so you won’t go to jail?

This is why people can’t be saved by trying to trust in grace. You either do or you don’t, you either love God or you don’t, you either obey for the right reasons or you don’t, you either go to heaven or you go to hell. When all is said and done and Jesus comes back to judge, he will not invite those who have drug his name through the mud all their lives. These are people who say they love Jesus, but care more about living for themselves than for him. Furthermore, God will save using his method not ours. We cannot create our own version of Christianity, one which allows us to do whatever we want on earth, and in the end, get saved by grace. In Romans chapter 3, verses 7 and 8, the Apostle Paul warns those who think that they can live by their own terms and still rely on grace. His final words are “Their condemnation is deserved”.
God never designed for man to be saved by being good. During all of the Old Covenant era, his rules were simply given to show how futile it is to try to earn your way to God. Only after someone has hit rock bottom in his own attempts to be holy will he then see his need for Jesus. For the unbeliever, God’s rules should be so paralyzingly impossible to keep, that the single alternative is to seek God’s inexhaustible grace. “Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Galatians 3:23-24. “Try to be a good person.” is the most popular answer I get from unbelievers regarding how to make it to heaven. The problem with this solution is that the bible says a person will never be saved by trusting in his own good works. On the contrary, a person is saved by grace alone. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9.

During Luke Skywalker’s assault on the Death Star, he is tempted to forsake using the Force and rely merely on his X-wing fighter’s computer and his own ability. His mission is to fire a torpedo into the Death Star’s very small exhaust shaft, a feat that one of his comrades states is “impossible even for a computer”. So, there he sits, his squadron almost completely destroyed, as the Death Star closes in on destroying the Rebel’s base. While he peers through the computer’s targeting scope, he hears the words of Obi-Wan Kenobi, “Use the Force, Luke”. Luke looks away and then back to the scope. “Let go, Luke.” Another pause, “Luke, trust me.” Luke heads the words of his former master and turns off the computer. Immediately, he receives communication from the Rebel command center, “Luke, you switched off your targeting computer! What’s wrong?” Luke replies, “Nothing, I’m all right.” Isn’t that amazing? The moment he doesn’t rely on the computer, everyone panics. This is the same negative response the world gives to those who rely on God’s grace alone and not in their own worth to be saved. Nonetheless, just like Luke, we must say to ourselves “Nothing is wrong. I’m all right”.

Well, if you are reading this blog, I am certain you know how it turns out. Luke uses only the Force, nails the exhaust port, and saves the Rebel base. The reason this is such a character arc for Luke and an example for us is that he had to make a decision, trust the Force or trust the computer. The two choices are mutually exclusive. You can’t be trusting in the Force, but also be using the targeting computer just in case the ole’ Force is having a bad day. No, it’s one or the other. That is exactly the way it is with bowing the knee to Christ and living for him. You have to surrender every possible treasure you have ever relied on or will rely on for strength, identity, and security and confess that you are a no-good sinner whose very best moral achievements warrant never-ending torture. This means that anything a professing Christian might be doing like reading the bible, teaching Sunday school, praying, giving money to the church, listening to Christian radio, or being involved in ubiquitous church programs and activities could send them on the fast track straight to hell if they are not doing it out of a deep love for God.
Like how Yoda said to Luke, either do trust in God’s grace or do not. Do not try to play both sides of the fence, or at the end of your life, you will receive the same type of harsh words Jesus will say to the church in Laodicea, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:15-16. God has never and will never save anybody just because they go to church and try to be a good person. Just the opposite, the only way to be saved is by humbling yourself and fully relying on God’s grace resulting in a transformed life from the inside out. My closing encouragement is especially to those who are not sure of their salvation. In a certain way, I hope this blog scares you into examining what or who you are trusting in, and if it is not in grace alone, that you would repent in faith. Finally, if you think you might be desiring a real relationship with God, ask him to give you the eyes to see your sin and your desperate need for his truly amazing and “unmerited” grace.

Category : Author: Bradley Hagan, Theology Applied