The Matrix 2

The Matrix 2: The red pill or the blue one?

In the film the Matrix, there is a scene in which Morpheus offers a choice to Neo; take the red pill or the blue one. The red one changing the way he would look at life from that point forward, knowing the truth, or the blue one in which all would remain the same and he remain in his blissful state of ignorance. Just one catch, there is no return.

Our Christian lives are much the same way, or at least they should be. Christ offers a choice; the red pill of salvation or the blue one in which we remain in the world ignorant of the truth, wherein still remains the truth.

Of course, all of us who have watched the Matrix know that Neo chooses the red one and his eyes are opened to the truth and to who he really is. This is what happens to us as Christians when we give our lives to Jesus. He opens our eyes to what the truth really is and we begin to see our selves for how we really are, which is a lot worse that we had imagined.

The problem is that some after having been exposed to and having known the truth try and go back or at least live as they did. And this is what I want to address here. I want to speak to those of us who have taken the red pill, yet live as though it were the blue one. The reason that this issue is so important is that there are many who have yet to make a decision thus relegating them to the world of the blue pill by default. Yet, they are looking to those who have “taken the red pill” to see if it really made any difference. And this is what scares me. Does there really appear to be a difference in our lives?

I was reading, recently, a poll here in Brazil in which over the course of six years, 5,000 professing Christian youth from 22 different denominations were asked as to their sexual practices. What came out of that poll scared me and woke me up. Here are their findings:

- 52% of professing Christian youth has lost their virginity as Christians

Half of those who have lost their virginity are currently sexually active

The average age for a Christian young man to lose his virginity is 14

The average age for a Christian young woman to lose her virginity is 16

17% of theses girls between 14 and 18 years old are already mothers or pregnant with their first child

OK, now you tell me, what is wrong with this picture? These are “Christian” youth.

Now, for the faint of heart, I would encourage you to stop here, because it’s about to hit God’s fan.

HEY CHRISTIAN YOUTH!!! WAKE UP!!! YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO BE DIFFERENT!!!

We are all called to be lights to this world.

Mt 5:14-16; You are the light of the world—like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don’t hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. In the same way, let your good deeds shine for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly father.

It’s time to radical! It’s time to be different! It’s time to let our lights shine! My concern is that many of these professing Christian youth are perhaps only that, professing. The Bible says that we shall know a tree by its fruit. Just because you are in the church or because you went to the front and prayed a prayer doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to McDonald’s makes you a hamburger. What is your fruit like? Which pill did you choose? Which pill will you choose? Remember, there is no return. If you are going to take the red one and live for Jesus, then live for him. Let your light shine before all men! They are waiting to see it!