Matrix Resurrections – Didn’t He Already Save Us? - Purity 609
Purity 609 12/23/2021 Purity 609 Podcast
Good morning,
Today’s photo of a simply spectacular sunset sky over Albany NY was
captured by yours truly as I was leaving work on Monday. Isn’t incredible that God has made the
universe in such a way that instead of having things stay relatively the same
all the time that we can have phenomenon like this sunset happen to grab our
attention?
Of course the changing phenomenon of our atmospheric conditions can also
cause gray skies and devasting storms that can literally kill us. So are we to curse God and impose our wishes
for a stagnant and steady pain free existence or should we make peace with God by
placing our faith in Christ to allow us to have peace regardless of the color
of the sky or no matter how the wind blows?
I know the answer for me! And with
Christmas less than 48 hours away, it is my Christmas wish that more people
will decide to have the peace on earth and good will toward men that is
possible when your sins are forgiven, and you become spiritually alive through
faith in Christ.
Christ’s Resurrection proves that He is God and that those who put their
faith in Him will likewise appear to lose their lives but will live forever:
first in heaven and then on the new earth when Christ returns.
Speaking of Resurrections, The Matrix Resurrections movie is available
for viewing in theatres and on HBO Max.
As a child of the 70’s and 80’s, movies played a big part of my childhood,
and my thinking often draws a lot on my cinematic experiences and now as a
Christian I tend to make analogies or draw parallels from some of Hollywood’s stories
to point to “The Greatest Story Ever Told” – the story of Jesus Christ. By the
way – that 1965 movie starring Max Von Sydow as Jesus is also available to
stream for free on Prime Video and other streaming services.
Anyway, the analogies that one can draw from the Matrix movies to talk
about the spiritual realities that are inherent in our lives and fully revealed
in the gospel of Jesus Christ are simply staggering.
Occasionally, I will get an idea or an inspiration for a daily message where
I can make analogies and I quickly realize that there is a lot to say and I get
overwhelmed by the possibilities and say “It’s too much Lord. It’s just too
much!” I could do a “Matrix series” of
messages on all the different aspects surrounding the film that have analogous
parallels to the gospel of Christ but will try to not go down too many rabbit
trails today but I think I need to list them all, or some of them, just to say “Do
you see that!”
In the Matrix films , humanity has been enslaved by machines that use
humans as organic batteries to power their electronic lives. Most of humanity exist in stasis encased in
something like amnionic fluid but to keep the humans alive and healthy their
consciousnesses has been plugged into an electronic simulation of reality –
called The Matrix. Although the Matrix is a clever deception, some humans have
discovered the truth and escaped from the Matrix and are dedicated their lives to
destroy their electronic overlords and free their fellow humans. And of course, there is a prophecy of a
savior – Neo – who will one day come and have incredible powers to win a final
victory over mechanized evil and to give everyone their freedom.
The movie series is very imaginative and is filled with great action
sequences and special effects but honestly although I own all three of the
previous Matrix movies – I can’t recall anything about parts 2 & 3, The
Matrix Reload and Matrix Revolutions, but apparently the Matrix savior, Neo,
hasn’t freed everyone or been killed by the electronic villains because the
franchise has been “resurrected” after an 18 year hiatus, causing me to ask: Didn’t
he already save everybody?
Okay, with that query, we can really go into a Matrix like battle
sequence where a multitude of shots can be dodged and fired in regards to the
gospel of Jesus Christ. Here is a small list of some of the parallels between
the Matrix and our Christian faith Christ.
· Our world system could
be said to be a Matrix, as Satan, who Christ called the ruler of this world, deceives
the whole world into doing anything but putting their faith in to Christ in his
war against God.
· The Matrix or the Matrix
“Bad Guys- the Agents” are thus a type of Satan – who seeks to enslave humanity
to steal their freedom and to serve him rather than God.
· The Two realities of the
Matrix, in the films the real world is a post apocalyptic nightmare whereas the
Matrix is nice and ordered pre-apocalyptic society. – which points to the
inherent persecution that comes when one stands for Christ versus the relative
peace that comes from remaining silent on matters of faith and being “tolerant”
and denying the exclusivity of Christ to save.
· Neo is an obvious type
of Messiah, so the Matrix unwittingly points to the Savior of the World - Jesus
Christ.
· Morpheus, and other
Matrix Seers, that reveal “more truth” to Neo in his journey – are types of the
Apostles or Old Testament Prophets – people who support the cause of Jesus
Christ and share the prophecies of the Messiah
· Cypher – one of the
original Matrix cast freedom fighters who chooses to betray Neo and the freedom
fighters and side with the Matrix for a “favored position” in the Matrix- is a type of Judas who betrayed Jesus for 30
pieces of silver. No spoilers but, Cypher and Judas share similar fates.
· The original Matrix
movie highlights a moment of decision between the blue pill or the red pill –
where one must decide to side with the truth (the freedom fighters) or the lie
(the Matrix) – which points to the gospel fact that we must all decide “Yes or
No” on Jesus Christ as our Savior.
· There is also a sequence
where Neo can “download” various Matrix abilities – like Kung Fu and Flying a
helicopter, if I recall correctly - This
could point the Jesus’ abilities to perform miracles.
· That Matrix Download – is
a type of The Holy Spirit who indwells and fills Christians and gives every
follower of Jesus Christ the ability to “do all things” through Christ who strengthens
us and who also will “lead us into all truth”.
· Matrix “freedom fighters”
who enjoy similar Neo like powers and fight for the freedom of the enslaved are a type of the Church – or the Body of
Christ – who seek to fight the good fight of faith, personally through
sanctification, and corporately by supporting other Christians and by sharing
the gospel to save those enslaved by Satan and the world system.
· I would also like to
point out that Christians who walk by faith in the power of the Holy Spirit,
like a Matrix download, can claim their
freedom and victory in an instant – by faith – for real guys. We don’t have to try hard – we have to
believe hard and then walk out our newly “downloaded” freedom and abilities. The more we “go” the more we grow in the fruit
of the Spirit.
That’s enough for now, I’m sure I could think of more analogies, believe
me I have left other shots unfired, between the Matrix and our Christian faith
but my intention here is not to entertain or amuse. My intention is to inform
and encourage.
Unlike the Matrix, the world system,
Satan, Jesus Christ, God, the Holy Spirit, are not a movie. The gospel isn’t a fictional story. The gospel
is the truth of existence itself and while skeptics could ask “Didn’t Jesus
save the world already?” and point to the suffering in the world and the
compromise of some who would identify as Christians to deny the truth of the gospel
and the power that God gives Christ’s followers; the gospel is still true. Those enslaved to their sin and who have
rejected Christ just can’t see it or choose the delights of the world rather
than the less than glamourous life that results from being a disciple of Jesus
Christ.
So as we are surrounded by the Matrix like holiday confusion that
involves Grinches, Reindeer, extravagant light displays, and Gift Giving Flying
Saints, let’s try to draw back from the hoopla and remember the Truth, the
reason for season and for our hope: Jesus Christ.
Also I encourage you to not only remember the “Christmas story” but to
take a step of faith out of whatever matrix of lies or compromise that may enslave
you and realize that you really can do “all things through Christ strengthens
you” and give the gift of hope and life
eternal to others this Christmas, and everyday after, by choosing the "red pill” of deciding to be covered by the blood of Jesus and to walk in the Spirit and live by faith to grow personally in
the fruit of the Spirit and to play your part in setting the captives
free.
Today’s Bible verse is
drawn from “The NLT Bible Promise Book for Men”.
This morning’s meditation verses are:
Romans
12:4-5 (NLT2)
4 Just as our bodies have
many parts and each part has a special function,
5 so it is with Christ’s body.
We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
Today’s verses remind us that we all have a part to play in God’s kingdom.
Someone once said hat Christianity is not a spectator sport. One of the biggest traps that the enemy sets up to take away the effectiveness of the body of Christ is to reinforce the false belief that there is a division withing the church of the “anointed” Christians that serve and the ”unanointed” regular Christians who “just believe”.
If you didn’t know by now I encourage people to reap the benefits of their Christian faith in the here and now by living a surrendered life of a Christian disciple. The Bible tells us that all believers are part of a royal priesthood – all of us. So we are all to “minister” and find and perform our purpose for the kingdom. Although we all have different talents and abilities, we all have a special function for the body of Christ and we all belong to each other in our mutual service to God’s kingdom.
I often say that there is a paradox in our Christian faith between us “being Christians” because of our faith and “doing the work of a Christian” that points to our “being a Christian”.
The Bible says that demons believe in God and tremble. So believing in God and placing your faith in Christ can be two different things and the way that the Word of God says that we can tell the difference between a disciple of Christ and someone else is by their “fruit” – the way they behave, the things they do, and the love they have for others.
So as a Christian, we really shouldn’t be sitting idly by while others in the body of Christ do the “work of ministry” for Christ’s great commission told all believers to make disciples.
As Christians, we really shouldn’t be keeping our faith a secret, or a “private matter” as one of the stars of the Matrix movies prefers to do, shots fire. Instead we should be seeking out and preforming our function for God’s kingdom and seeking to represent ourselves as followers of Christ.
So don’t be a spectator and have people, or yourself, wonder if you really are a Christian. Believe in the gospel but also seek to renew your mind and become more like Jesus and walk into the good works that the Lord has prepared for you. We all have a special function in the Body of Christ so seek it out to perform it and to become the person that God made you to be,
As always, I invite all to go to mt4christ.org
where I always share insights from prominent Christian theologians and counselors
to assist my brothers and sisters in Christ with their walk.
Today we continue sharing from A.W. Tozer’s Advent Devotional – From Heaven, for Day 27 as this current resource series will lead us to Christmas Eve.
As always, I share this information for educational purposes
and encourage all to purchase A.W. Tozer’s books for your own private study and
to support his work.
DAY 27
GOD’S BEST GIFT
… Christ loved us and gave himself
up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God …
EPHESIANS 5:2
God’s gifts are many; His best gift
is one. It is the gift of Himself. Above all gifts, God desires most to give
Himself to His people. Our nature being what it is, we are the best fitted of
all creatures to know and enjoy God. “For Thou madest us for Thyself, and our
heart is restless, until it repose in Thee” (from The Confessions of St.
Augustine).
When God told Aaron, “Thou shalt
have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them:
I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel” (Numbers
18:20), He in fact promised a portion infinitely above all the real estate in
Palestine and all the earth thrown in. To possess God—this is the inheritance
ultimate and supreme.
There is a sense in which God never
gives any gift except He gives Himself with it. The love of God, what is it but
God giving Himself in love?
The mercy of God is but giving Himself
in mercy, and so with all other blessings and benefits so freely showered upon
the children of atonement. Deep within all divine blessing is the Divine One
Himself dwelling as in a sanctuary.
Absalom dwelt two full years in
Jerusalem and saw not the king’s face, though the king was his own father. Are
there not many in the kingdom of God who have no awareness of God, who seem not
to know that they have the right to sit at the King’s table and commune with
the King? This is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it is a hard and
grievous burden.
To know God, this is eternal life;
this is the purpose for which we are and were created. The destruction of our
God-awareness was the master blow struck by Satan in the dark day of our
transgression.
To give God back to us was the chief
work of Christ in redemption. To impart Himself to us in personal experience is
the first purpose of God in salvation. To bring acute God-awareness is the best
help the Spirit brings in sanctification. All other steps in grace lead up to
this.
Were we allowed but one request, we
might gain at a stroke all things else by praying one all-embracing prayer:
Thyself, Lord! Give me Thyself and I
can want no more.
Tozer, A. W. (2016). From heaven: a
28-day advent devotional. Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers.
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