The Story

For my birthday, Sandy, Andrew and I last night watched "The Empire Strikes Back!"; but with a difference:  As we watched, we listened to George Lucas and Director Irvin Kershner talk about the making of the movie. It was fascinating to hear!  And I was reminded of something very important....

There is an admittedly long (but I think interesting) story behind this post. Please read on by clicking the “read more” button below.

What a blast!  As many times as I have seen "The Empire Strikes Back!" in the 38 years since I first saw it in 1980 (Yes, kids, I am that old), this may have been the most satisfying.  Every few seconds, Lucas or Kershner would describe this or that difficulty in making the movie.  (Did you know that they filmed the opening scene in Norway in temperatures as cold as -20 degrees?)  They pointed out the smallest details that I had never noticed or had wondered about.  (They did not undulate the set during the scene inside the giant worm.  Instead, the actors threw themselves around as if the floor was moving - when actually the camera was tilting.  Kershner shouted to the actors, "Right!" Now "left!)  They discussed important plot points; such as when Luke rashly ran off to rescue his friends, against Master Yoda's admonition that Luke was not yet ready. Lucas notes, "Luke's impulses are right but his methods are wrong."  And I thought he was merely being heroic!  

Did you know that no one other than Lucas, Kershner, Hamill and James Earl Jones knew that Darth Vader was Luke's father until the premier of the movie?  Not even the actor who played Darth Vadar knew! (Jones had only provided that wonderful voice.)  The actor, who sat behind Kershner at the premier, poked Kershner when Darth said, "I am your father." and complained that he hadn't been told!

And did you know that Han's final words before being frozen in carbon where totally unplanned?  His line, to be spoken to Princes Leia, was supposed to be "I love you, too."   Lucas and the Director hated that line.  It seemed so out of character for Han to say it.  They racked their brains for what else to have Harrison Ford say, but they couldn't think of anything.  Then, as they filmed the scene, Ford (all on his own and out of the blue!) spoke that iconic response to Leia's "I love you."  "I know," he said.  My wife hates that line!  What a chauvinistic thing to say, she protests.  And she's right!  That's precisely why it is perfect.  It was a great moment for the development of Han's character, both in his budding relationship with Leia and his progression from scoundrel to hero.  Such discussions of the development of characters (Chewy, R2D2 et al.) were the best parts of the of the commentary. 

Now, I'm not telling you all this because I'm a big Star Wars nerd.  I'm telling this story as an introduction to the Biggest Story of all time!

God is the original and the consummate storyteller, isn't He?  The whole Bible is a story - of God's work in the world.  Think of all the characters - their lives, their failings, their successes, their faith and failed faith, from Adam to Paul.  We are told the story of Jesus's life and death and resurrection.  Jesus Himself was a master storyteller, wasn't He? 

We are part of His great story.  We all have different roles.  Some of those roles are hard!  Some of our scenes are dark.  Others are comedic.  Sometimes God gives us, His actors, specific instructions on how to act.  Sometimes, as Kershner had to do in making the movie, we have to “guess” about what will work in this middle section of the story.  (I suggest that “guesswork” involve a lot of prayerful conversations with the Director.)  Sometimes, like Ford, we will be surprised at what we say and do. But we have the Script, God’s Word; His story to inform us.  We know (at least in general, if not exactly lines to speak) how we are to play our part in His story.  

Stories have a beginning, middle and climax and, then, finally the denouement, which is the final part of a play, movie, or narrative in which the strands of the plot are drawn together, and matters are explained or resolved.   

Well, God's story begins with creation.  The climax of His story will come when Jesus returns to establish His Kingdom. (Oh, how I long for that Day!)   But that isn’t the end of the story, glorious though it will be.  There is yet to be the denouement of the story.

So the denouement is simply being in heaven, right?  Not exactly.  The denouement will be at the Bema, the Throne of Christ, where all followers of Christ stand before Him. (See Romans 14:10)  Peter tells us we will first, “receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”  (I Peter 1:11) But notice the qualifier in verse 10, “If you do these things….”  “These things" are living life God’s way.  That is the condition for a rich welcome. 

What is the difference between a mere “welcome” and a “rich welcome”?  In his second letter to Timothy, Paul tells us, “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."  (What is a “crown of righteousness”?  Well, the Bible has a lot to say about that; but for now I’ll just say this: I am sure I want one if Jesus is giving them out!) 

Does one get a "crown of righteousness" solely because one has "accepted the part" of follower of Jesus, having received Him as Savior?  Apparently not.  Paul goes on to say it is only for “those who have longed for his appearing.”  Hum....  It seems that at the Bema, which is also called “The Judgement Seat of Christ”, there will be a judgement of some sort, even of Christians.  That’s both an exciting and slightly terrifying thought….

So, here we live - in the middle section of God’s story (like in the second installment of the original "Start Wars:  The Empire Strikes Back".)  As actors, we have a lot of those same decisions to make about how to "do" this middle section, just like Kershner and cast did in making his movie.  

But we have a huge advantage over many actors:  We, like Kershner, know how the story will end!  So, even though we don't know all the plot twists, we can play our role with confidence and purpose.  Each of us can, as Kershner said of Ford, "really feel his part."  We are able, as acting instructors say, to "know our motivation"; because we know what happens in the denouement!  

That denouement, where all the strands of the plot are drawn together, will be the Judgement Seat of Christ, the Bema, the denouement, were we each will find out if our scenes have (as it were) ended up on the cutting room floor (burned up, like “wood, hay and stubble”) or shown at the Premier, where we will wear the “gold, silver and precious stones” with which God has adorned us.  (I Cor. 3:13)      

Since stories are meant to be told, I believe that, if we are faithful, our own stories within a Story will be told by the Great Storyteller at the Bema.  Therefore, let’s live lives that make for a great story of God’s grace in our life!  All we need do is follow this directorial instruction given by Peter: “Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.  But if when you do what is right and suffer for it and you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.”  (I Peter 1:17)

(I dedicate this post to Dr. Rosalie de Rosset, who tried - really hard - to teach me to write as a college student.  Thank you, Rosie.)