You’re here because you know something. What you know you can’t explain. But you feel it. You’ve felt it your entire life… There’s something wrong with the world. You don’t know what it is, but it’s there, like a splinter in your mind driving you mad. It is this feeling that has brought you to me. Do you know what I’m talking about?
— Morpheus in The Matrix
In the movie, The Matrix, Morpheus invites Neo into this journey of truth. For his entire life, Neo had been blinded from the true world around him. Something was gnawing in him, drawing him to want to know the Truth. He was easily convinced to take that step from death to life, and soon entered the world of the Matrix.
In many ways, this modern-day parable illustrates an incredible Biblical truth–we too were born in this world, blinded by the real, spiritual world around us. We have grown accustomed to the “patterns” and “behaviors” of this world (Romans 12:1, 2). Even more, our computer-like brains have been specifically programed by this world. Through media, education and the choices we make, our patterns of thinking have been programmed like a computer.
Interestingly, our minds were created by God to be infused with truth, wisdom and Godly principles; however, the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4), Satan, has used this God-given ability against us. Instead of our minds being programmed correctly with Truth, the enemy has programmed our minds with lies and deception.
[Satan] was a murderer from the beginning and has always hated the truth. There is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44).
All fear, anxiety, depression and panic attacks are rooted in lies. We must replace those crippling lies with God’s Truth. When we do, “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).
The Unseen Spiritual World
We must recognize that “we are not human beings having a spiritual experience, but spiritual beings having a human experience” (Pierre Teilhard de Chardin). Like Neo in The Matrix, we must come to know that this world is subject to a greater, more real world around us–the unseen spiritual world.
This can be difficult. As we are born into this world, we are taught wrongly that it’s the only world that’s real. The onslaught of media, culture, education, and upbringing solidifies these lies so that believing in a spiritual world can be near impossible. Our world is immersed in unbelief, and so few people can simply believe.
Thankfully, God is on our side, and he wants to help. He has sent the Holy Spirit to teach us and guide us into all truth (John 14:26). No matter how your mind has been programmed, or what lies have controlled your life up till now, God has both the desire and the power to transform your thinking. Our job is to simply submit ourselves to him. By yielding our mind and soul to the Holy Spirit, we can start the transformation process today. We can renew our minds with the truth, and when we know the truth, it will set us free (John 8:32).
Prayer: Father, I surrender my soul and my mind to your Holy Spirit. Teach me more about the Truth in Christ and about the real spiritual world that you’ve called us to.