The Choice is yours

The Movie “The Matrix” has a lot of complex points, but I am using this in the notion of God’s light in our dark world. The man in this movie (Morpheus) gives a man named Neal an option. That the life he is living is a lie, and he can be shown the truth, if he excepts the option between two pills. The blue pill, is to never see this man again and go back to his mundane life which is compacted in a lie (deceit), or he can take the red pill and his eyes be opened to the truth of the mysteries that are under his nose this whole time.

This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill – the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill – you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes. Remember, all I'm offering is the truth – nothing more. (From the Movie “The Matrix)

I take this analogy of mine and make light that this sounds so much of how we live our lives, in deceit of sin (the satan is the controller of your lives, when you are in bondage of your chains of sin. But God like this man described in this movie, gives you an option, to choice one or the other. Either to continue in your life in deceit of sin, or to be revealed the truth, and be shown the light of what has been hidden before you. Blue pill- Death or Red pill- Life.  The choice is yours…..

2 Corinthians 4:1-4

“Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

**The good news is open and revealed to everyone, except to those who refuse to believe. Satan is “the god of this world”. His work is to deceive, and he has blinded those who don’t believe in Christ. The allure of money, power, and pleasure blinds people to the light of Christ’s gospel. Those who refuse Christ, preferring their own pursuits, have unknowingly made Satan their god. **

2 Corinthians 4:5-7

“For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”

**The supremely valuable message of salvation in Jesus Christ has been entrusted by God to frail and falliable human beings. Paul’s focus, however, was not on the perishable container but on it’s priceless contents—God’s power dwelling in us. Though we are weak, God uses us to spread his Good news and gives us power to do his work. Knowing that and power is his, not ours, should keep us from pride and motivate us to keep daily contact with God, our power source. Our responsibility is to let people see God through us. And as Children of God, as we have shown the truth, and have a renewed mind, we see things differently through His eyes, and ways, a new man, forsaking the old man—sin/death. And now it is our Job to show others the truth/life that was given to us, that it can be easily given to them as well. **

Romans 6:17-18

“But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”

**Just like the ‘matrix’, when the man was given the option of the red pill, that his eyes would basically be opened there was no turning back, once you are revealed the truth of what was hidden, you now know and are shown what to do to live through it. (The word-Truth, reveals, and is given for our knowledge and understanding on how to live a new life with Christ, and it shows us how we can conquer our enemy/adversary the devil.) and once you are shown the truth, why turn back? To be a slave, why go back to captivity, don’t you want to be free? You are set free from bondage, and now a servant of righteousness, taking a new role as a soldier in the army of the Lord, ready for battle, and in this battle we are not alone to fight, when we have a savior on our side. **

Romans 12:1-2

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

**God has good, pleasing, and perfect plans for his children. He wants us to be new people with renewed minds, living to honor and obey him. Since he wants only what is best for us, and since he wants only to make our new life possible, we should joyfully volunteer as living sacrifices for his service. **

John 16:12-15

“I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.”

** Christ’s death on the cross made a personal relationship with God available to us. When we confess our sin, God declares us righteous and delivers us from judgment for our sins. The truth into which the Holy Spirit guides us is the truth about Christ. He also helps us through patient practice to discern right from wrong. **

2 Corinthians 4:8-10

“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.”

**Paul reminds us that though we may think we are at the end of our rope, we are never at the end of hope. Our perishable body is subject to sin and suffering, but God never abandons us. Because Christ has won victory over death, we have eternal life. All our risks, humiliations, and trials are opportunities for Christ to demonstrate his power and presence through us. *

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

** It is easy to lose heart and quit. We all have faced problems in our relationships or work that have caused us to think about giving up. Rather than quitting when persecution wore him down, Paul concentrated on the inner strength that came from the Holy Spirit. Your very weakness allows the resurrection power of Christ to strengthen you moment by moment. **

--Problems and human limitations have several benefits:

1. They remind us of Christ’s suffering for us

2. They keep us from pride

3. They cause us to look beyond this brief life

4. They prove our faith to others

5. They give God the opportunity to demonstrate his power.

SEE YOUR TROUBLES AS OPPORTUNITIES!!!!

His ways are not our Ways

 

 

Isaiah 55:8

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord."

 

God's knowledge and wisdom are far greater than man's. We are foolish to try to fit God into our mold-- to make his plans and purposes conform to yours. Instead, we must strive to fit into His plans.

 

 

**Habakkuk (one of God's prophets) was saddened by the corruption he saw all around him in Judah. In response, he poured out his heart to God. Today, injustice is still rampant, but don't let your concern cause you to doubt God or rebel against him. Instead, consider the message God gave Habakkuk and recognize God's long-range plans and purposes. Realize that God is doing right, even if you do not understand why he works as he does. **

 

Habakkuk 1:2-3

"O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! Even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? For spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention."

 

**When God spoke to Habakkuk, He told the prophet what he was up to: He was preparing the Babylonians to discipline Judah for its sin. But why do you think God waited so long to have this conversation with Habakkuk? Perhaps the answer is found at the end of verse 5. **

 

Habakkuk 1:5

"Behold, ye among the heathen, and regard, wonder marvelously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you."

 

 

Also note that in (Matthew 13:37-43), it speaks of the separation of evil from good. (Parable of the weeds). At the end of the world, angels will separate evil from good. There are true and false believers in church today, but we should be cautious in our judgments, because only Christ is qualified to make the final separation. There are things we may not understand, things we wish would change, and turn out another way, but in the end God is in control. Just like judgment, it is in His hands, not ours.

 

Matthew 13:37-43

"He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; the field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of the world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. who hath hears to hear, let him hear."

 

 

**Going back to Habakkuk....Sometimes God doesn't answer us right away for the same reason He didn't answer Habakkuk right away. He knows that message will be hard for us to believe, because it wont match our expectation. We aren't going to want to believe what he says, and we will use what we know about His character to convince ourselves that He can't really mean it. **

 

--God's words enlarged Habakkuk's perspective and strengthened his faith. Now he no longer pointed an accusatory finger at God or questions Him. By the time God had finished speaking, Habakkuk could face the future certain that God would not only continue to speak to Him but also continually act on his behalf. God was wise and good and just, and Habakkuk could trust Him completely. Habakkuk's final prayer is full of confidence, faith, and joy --

 

Habakkuk 3:17-18

"Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flocks shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be not herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation."

 

**Crop failure and the death of flocks would devastate Judah. But Habakkuk affirmed that even in times of starvation, he would still rejoice in the Lord. Habakkuk's feelings were not controlled by the events around Him but by faith in God's ability to give him strength. When nothing makes sense, and when troubles seem more than you can bear, remember that God gives strength. Take your eyes off your difficulties and look to God. **

 

Proverbs 3:5-6

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil."