By the time I was born Battlestar Galactica and its spin-off, Galactica 1980, had both been canceled. Neither show found the same success of the 2003 reimagined series, but the original Battlestar Galactica still holds a special place in my heart.
Before Netflix the only way to watch an old television series was to hope that it would end up in syndication. Syndication is how I fell in love with Star Trek: The Next Generation, watching reruns every night at 7:00. Thankfully SyFy (or Sci-Fi Channel) dusted off the original Battlestar Galactica when I was in junior high and I was able to see the adventures of Apollo, Starbuck and Muffit.
I didn’t mind that the same shots of the vipers were used in every episode and that the positive shield literally blinded the Galactica. It was a great show and fed my burgeoning science fiction hunger.
I love the reimagined series, but there was something comforting about the original Battlestar Galactica. There weren’t any gray areas; the good guys were good and the bad guys were bad. There wasn’t any bad guy badder than Baltar. Baltar wasn’t a bad guy on his own, though, he had a faithful servant to help carry out his schemes against Galactica.
Lucifer was a charming robot with a visible electronic brain. He seemed to have more personality and consciousness than the regular Cylon centurions, but he was still created to serve Baltar. After every command of Baltar’s, Lucifer would simply say, “By your command.”
I admire Lucifer’s obedience. Whatever Baltar asks Lucifer does it. Even when Lucifer didn’t fully trust in Baltar’s military prowess, Lucifer still carried out Baltar’s orders.
Sometimes I wish I were a little more like Lucifer, without the devilish undertones.
God gives me all sorts of commands. “Do this.” “Don’t do this.” Unlike Baltar, though, God is infinitely competent. The commands he gives me, if I were to follow them wholeheartedly and without hesitation, would lead to the best life possible. Unfortunately, when God says to do something, my response is far more tepid than Lucifer’s.
Lucifer says, “By your command.”
I tend to tell God, “Let me get back to you on that.”
We can show God that we love him by obeying him. More than showing our love, though, obeying his commands really benefits us. God created us so he knows how we can get the most out of our lives. Obeying his commands maximizes our lives and gives us a deeper purpose.
Lucifer obeyed Baltar’s commands because he was a robot programmed to do so. God didn’t want us to be robots so he gives us the opportunity to choose to obey him.
And obeying God is as simple as telling him, “By your command.”
Nice post, Scott! I rhapsodized at some length about the original BSG on The Sci-Fi Christian a few years back — http://thescifichristian.com/2013/09/remembering-the-original-rag-tag-fleet-battlestar-galactica-at-35-part-1/ – but I didn’t mention Lucifer. I like how you’ve used him as a parable for our own obedience (only, as you suggest, for a far worthier Lord!)
My son and I are watching the rebooted BSG – me for the second time, him for the first. I have to say, it may be even timelier now than it was a decade ago…
I remember reading your posts about the original BSG; it was great. I really want to go back and rewatch the 2003 series but I just don’t seem to have enough time. Thanks for sharing!