On Christmas Eve, Jason and I went with his family to see the new Star Wars movie, Rogue One.  It was a superb film, but I will warn you, don't get attached to anyone.  Anyway, the movie is set during the time between Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith and Episode 4: A New Hope.  In the last few moments of the movie, there is a clip of Princess Leia receiving the top secret information about the Death Star.  At first, you only see her from behind, which is understandable because the actress who played that part forty years ago is. . .well. . .forty years older.  Surprisingly, though, at the last second, she turns around and says a few words.  The camera focuses on her face, and my first question was, "How did they do that?"  It was the same actress, or was it?

We had a lively discussion about this at lunch after the movie.  Some were of the opinion that CGI was used to make the actress look like the original Princess Leia.  Others felt that perhaps the clip was one that had been filmed all those years ago and not used in the initial film in 1977.  Some quick online research informed us that it was neither.  The part was played by another actress, and when looking at her profile picture, the girl looks nothing like the original actress.  But I promise you, she looked like a twin in the movie.  It was crazy!

In my devotions this morning, I was reading about how much Christ longs to form us into His image, how He works on us relentlessly to make us more like Him.  Immediately, the Leia confusion came to my mind.  Somehow, the film studio took a girl who doesn't look much at all like the original actress and made everyone think it was Princess Leia.  I'm sure they spent many hours making her look the part.  Jesus does the same with us, and He won't be satisfied until His work is complete.  He longs for others to look at us and say, "Wait a minute!  Is that Jesus?"

As we close out this year and embark on another, keep in mind that God is doing a work in us, and only He knows what will be required to make us more like Him.  It may mean some time in the fire.  It may involve some long, dark valleys.  It may even include lots of joys and victories.  I don't know, but I urge you to keep this in mind as you face the new year.  Whatever God allows to come into your life has a purpose.  Everything He does is part of His plan to make us more like Him.  So while the journey may be difficult, the destination is definitely worth it.

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: - Philippians 1:6