The Failure inTrying or Yoda had it Right

Debbie and I went to see the first Star Wars movie on our honeymoon, over 39 years ago. Episode IV "A New Hope". We were hooked and have found our way to episodes V, VI, I, II, III, and VII. It is highly likely that we will see the new Star Wars this fall as we wait for episode VIII to come to the big screen. We can actually speak "Star Wars" with our children. "I am your father." In Star Wars Episode V "The Empire Strikes Back". Luke leaves the frozen world of Hoth to go to the Degaba system to train to be a Jedi. Here he meets Yoda, a Jedi Master, who is to teach him the way of the force. There is a lot of Eastern mysticism woven into the sci-fi fantasy but there are also some reflections of truth. Yoda is definitely not a student of Plato. His theological framework is, without a doubt, Eastern. He actually reflects a little Hebraic truth we can learn from. His thoughts are actually ones our Western world view has a harder time incorporating into our lives than we realize.

Luke is trying to "use the force" to levitate things when his X-wing starfighter begins to slip beneath the murky waters of the swamp that is Yoda's home. He is challenged by his teacher, Yoda, to rescue the sinking fighter. Luke is more than skeptical as he sees no relationship between his growing Jedi skills and this assignment. Moving boxes is one thing but this is an X-wing starfighter. He sighs and tells Yoda he will try. Yoda responds with a profound statement that every follower of Messiah can learn from. Yoda simply says, "Do or do not, there is no try". Luke gives it a shot, and for a moment we see the starfighter begin to move, Luke is on the verge of success. However, the moment passes and the starfighter heads for a watery grave. "I can't, it is too big" is Luke's excuse. Enter Yoda, who reaches out and, with the use of the force, lifts the starfighter to safety. Luke is stunned and says, "I don't believe it." "That is why you failed" replies Yoda.

Setting the mystical "force" stuff aside Yoda is actually on to something. God never tells us to try to do anything. He tells us to believe. John 6:29, "Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” To keep His commandments, John 14:15, "If you love Me, keep My commandments." Also,  "I command you, that you love one another" (John 15:17). How about Micah 6:8, "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" God never tells us to try. He tells us to do. He offers forgiveness if we fail and second opportunities to "do". The expectation of obedience is just that, to obey. I have heard so many people say, myself included, "I'll try". It is a nice way of giving ourselves the out for disobedience. "At least I tried." Is the salve we readily apply to our failures.

As a hypothetical example, let's say you have determined as a couple to "try" not to argue or raise your voices. The opportunity comes to do just that and then your spouse hits that sensitive button they always do in these situations. You respond in like fashion and then there is vocal escalation and soon the shouting match is in full force. You can't help what happened, but at least you tried. Really? Okay, let us add one new component. In the midst of the mutual verbal assault your four year old daughter enters the room crying. The verbal battle is put on hold to comfort the child. Wow! It appears you can "do" instead of just "try" after all. When we enter into any discipline that the Lord and His Spirit has convicted us of the call is simple. Do or do not, there is no try.

"Trying" is often the way we can pre-excuse wrong behavior and broken promises. "I will try to come to your game", "I will try to read my Bible every day," "I will try to be more committed to being at church." I will try to listen to my spouse." This way if we do not accomplish what we promised we have the answer, I tried, I just didn't make it, or come, or read, or listen. "Hey, at least I tried." There are times when there are circumstances beyond our control, a car accident delays us, sickness, or some emergency meeting you cannot avoid. However, how many times do we toss out the "I tried" when the truth is simply we did not do.

I need to go to the gym. It helps my heart, my energy, my weight, my stress level and gives me opportunities to be a witness to some of the guys I have gotten to know. If I get up a little before 6:00 a.m. and do my morning ritual of devotions, putting the dishes in the drainer away, checking my emails, taking my supplements, I don my gym apparel, and brush my teeth it is now 7:00 and time to wake Debbie up. Then I just have to grab the gym bag and exit the house. If I DO this it works every time. I get to the gym. The mornings I try to go I almost always find a reason for not getting there.

The Scriptures are full, from cover to cover, with things I am to do. God loves me enough to let me know His expectations. He wants me to enjoy life and to get along well with others. He wants me to have a great marriage and to be a good dad. He gives me clear instructions as how to accomplish those things. He does not ask me to try. He tells me to do. It is in the doing of His will that we find joy, fulfillment and purpose in life. In 1 Samuel 17 we find the account of David and Goliath. David is mocked by his brothers and questioned by King Saul as to his ability to take on Goliath. Goliath mocks and curses David as well. We read, "Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied" (1 Samuel 17:45). David is confident. He is before Saul and Goliath. He does not say, "I will try to kill Goliath." He does not tell Goliath he will try and he does not expect to be the corpse with his brothers saying, "well, at least he tried." No, by the power of God David would do, not just try.

Yeshua put it this way, "But let your ‘Yes' be ‘Yes,' and your ‘No,' ‘No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one" (Matthew 5:37). Life is a series of decisions and choices. By the indwelling Spirit we can walk with the Lord in strength and obedience. We are called to be a trustworthy people. In the process there will be times when we do not know if we can make a commitment, and yes, it is reasonable to tell someone we will try to get to the party while letting them know there are circumstances that could prohibit that. However, when it comes to the Lord's Commands, if we Love Him we will not try, we will do. When we examine our own lives are we looking for the false comfort of "trying" when God's commands are clear?
" Do or do not, there is no try."