May the 4th Be With You
May the 4th. It’s amazing the kind of influence something can have on the world. Travel back in time to the early 1970’s and no one would thought twice about this date. Sure there are several historical events that have taken place through the years like any other day, but in recent history May the 4th has become a day to remember the great force in popular culture (yes, the pun was intended). The popular line from the Star Wars series “May the Force be with you” has made May the 4th the unofficial Star Wars day. Those who love the series will wear the shirts or socks or some other sign to show their support and love for the saga. I myself, put on my R2D2 socks and watched several kids get out of their cars this morning with Star Wars swag.
I was reminded this morning of the influence that others have had through history as I studied the book of Daniel with the elementary students at Mars Hill during chapel. Daniel was removed from his home land, stripped of his freedom and rights, likely had his sexuality taken away from him (he was a eunuch), and given a new name, Belteshazzar. He served under several regimes and various governments. Each one had forces that were determined to see him and his buddies fail in standing for God. Yet the resounding message of Daniel is that you can take everything from us but you cannot take our faithfulness to God. No force — good or evil — on heaven and earth can move us from that faithfulness. Fear of fire or lions couldn’t do it.
Just as Star Wars has impacted our culture, so Daniel impacted the culture he found himself in - as hostile as it was. When things went south in each regime people called for Daniel because they knew there was a power in him that was in no one else. When dreams needed interpreting they called for Daniel. Even when people wanted to do away with him, they had to find good things to accuse him of. The lion’s den only happened because people who hated Daniel had to trick the king into a law that said no one could petition or pray to any other being except Darius. Daniel didn’t hesitate to pray when he went directly to his room with windows open to Jerusalem and said his prayers 3 times a day. When Darius learned that Daniel was the offender he was troubled and couldn’t sleep. And when they pulled Daniel out safely from the den of lions it resulted in Darius making a decree that every person in the land should worship the God of Daniel. That is influence. That is impacting the culture with God. There is no FORCE in the Universe like our God. Darius’ decree went like this:
“Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for He is the Living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.”
So today, may the force that lived in Daniel and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be with you. May the force that lived within the Apostles of Jesus as they struggled and suffered be with you. May the force that made the Universe, brought down Goliath, toppled Jericho, and parted the Red Sea be with you. May we all let the Spirit of our God live so powerfully in us that we influence the world - or maybe just our school or neighborhood or family - to serve the living God that “delivers and rescues.” May the Spirit be with you.
Ben