THE RED PILL OR THE BLUE PILL

3/15/17

In the movie, 'The Matrix,' Morpheus offers Neo two pills. Morpheus tells him that the red pill will disclose the truth of what is behind the Matrix, and the blue pill will simply enable one to carry on with life as before. As Neo reaches for the red pill he is told that only truth is what will be given to him.

What choices are we now being offered in this life of ours? We can follow the systems of this world that are around us, and seek the riches and the success that many think that it offers. But just like the blue pill, one will never truly know the dimensions of life that only those who have followed after Christ would know. They would never know the intimacy of the Holy Spirit that only a spirit-baptized child of God could know.

The truth has nothing to do with pills, or anything that one would swallow. The truth isn’t about eating the right kinds of foods, or staying on a diet, although practicing good eating habits will certainly provide one with a healthy life style. Taking the red pill won’t enable you to go to the right church, or to drop your money in the offering plate every Sunday. Taking the right pill won’t enable rose petals to be strewn on the path in front of you. You may well soon find out, that there are different sorts of troubles that you encounter, but you now have someone who goes through these things with you.

The truth may well cause you to lose the friends you once had. For in following after Christ, one must be in a position to put Him first above all. God doesn't want us to be at odds with fathers, or sons and daughters, but He is a jealous God.

34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. Matt. 10

When one swallows the red pill, he or she enters into a new dimension of life. Whereas before, one had followed the spirit of the power of the air, now one beholds the light, and that light exposes the deeds of darkness. But now, one in time, begins to see and to discern the thoughts and intentions of others. This is not the same as one who would have a critical spirit. This is not a matter of finding fault with others, but the light that has come and has taken abode there, sees things with the mind of Christ Himself.

11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.1 Cor. 2

The mind of Christ sees those spiritual things that only one who has chosen to take the red pill could see. However, one quickly learns that those things that they see are not always the most beautiful or lovely things in this world. When the Spirit of God discloses these things to us, we must be ready to see ALL that He would show us. It is certainly true that when one focuses upon those things that are lovely and of a good report, then our minds and hearts would be filled with peace and harmony. But the truth is not always a lovely thing, nor is always beautiful. Was it a beautiful thing to behold the bloody figure of a man hanging upon a cross? Was it a beautiful thing for one to watch as our Lord’s body was scourged, and the flesh peeled off Him in strips upon the ground? Is it a beautiful thing to see a young mother with a child on a street corner begging for bread? On the other hand, those were 'beautiful' things that the Lord did for us, as He went through this gruesome process on our behalf. We are told that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and certainly this is true about the ordeal that Christ did for us.

But what of the things that we know and see through the mind of Christ, that are not held in common with some or several, of our brothers and sisters in Christ? What if the truth that we know in our hearts about political leaders and issues, making the world great again, or the tribulation that we ALL must face, isn't held in common with some? Sometimes we learn in this life of ours that wisdom is indeed key, for we quickly learn what dialogues are worthy of our time and which ones aren't.

We are told that we should be blessed when others revile or persecute us for the sake of Christ, because then our reward is great in heaven, for the prophets also were persecuted in this way. However, one shouldn't go around with this kind of mindset, because becoming a martyr may well not be the best choice.

11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Matt. 5 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you

Be ready to see and to hear what the Holy Spirit will show you. Don’t simply judge the appearance of a thing until you’ve been given the insight into its makings.

Stephen A. Hanson