The Matrix
I truly believe that our soul knows what we need and should do. What we refer to as our conscious tries to let us know what we need and should do. For Christians, it’s the Holy Spirit that helps guide us. That is why, in a lot of secular books and movies, you find real philosophical thoughts to consider.
Case in point, the movie “The Matrix.” I’ll try to give you a couple of examples without spoiling too much of it. In the movie, the main character finds out he has been living in a simulation, and the real world isn’t a very nice place. After he finds this out, he is drafted into the conflict over the simulated world and all the human participants, who also don’t know they are in a simulation. He immediately is offered training in various fighting styles. The first “download” is Judo. When he completes that training (a minute or two later), he is asked if he wants to complete additional training, to which he ecstatically agrees.
This made me wonder if I would be similarly ecstatic if, when I first start something new, I could download the skill and instantly become an expert. You wouldn’t have to spend so much time and effort to learn or even to excel at it. About 30 years ago, I played golf for the first time on a scramble team. I enjoyed it so much that I spent hundreds of dollars and many hours of frustration trying to play that very challenging game over the next 5 years or so. I never got much better than I played on that first scramble team, but not for lack of trying.
That’s when I realized I wouldn’t be happy becoming an instant expert in some endeavor. The struggle to overcome the challenges with a new objective is what gives me satisfaction.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.” - Proverbs 3:5-12 ESV
The second example from the movie is that the main character is told he will be the hero of the simulated world, although he doubts this is true. Right before the climax portion of the movie, he starts to realize he has potential he didn’t know he had. The other main character tells him knowing the path and walking the path are different.
As Christians, we know God has already won and we will be heirs with Jesus in Heaven. Even though I know that I’m constantly looking at whatever I’m going through and wondering how it fits in with God’s plan. Walking the path is different than knowing the path.
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:18-28
I have said before that man is created with a God shaped hole in his soul. Even those who reject accepting Christ as their savior know some of these God based truths. We can, if we look, see them in secular creations.
