The Opposite Life

Several years ago the original Matrix movie caught my attention. I am sure I was not the only one who looked at the movie and thought......that is my life as a Christian. Well, my life in a souped up Hollywood version. In case you did not see the movie here is a little description of
the movies content.

The film describes a future in which reality perceived by humans is actually the Matrix, a simulated reality created by sentient machines in order to pacify and subdue the human population while their bodies' heat and electrical activity are used as an energy source. Upon learning this, computer programmer "Neo" is drawn into a rebellion against the machines.

There have been many times my imagination has tried to capture a picture of what our lives as Christians really look like. While I am thankful that I can not see the angelic forces at work in our world.......how much easier would it be to remember that we do not fight against flesh and blood if we could see our true enemy?
Instead we must rely on the Spirit that lives within us. Part of His job is to remind us that what our earthly minds see---well.. it is not necessarily true. I was thinking about this yesterday...have you ever thought about the fact that when scripture tells us that sometimes we entertain angels unaware-sometimes those angels might not be fighting on God's team?
Really the only way we can trust that what we see with our earthly eyes is what it really is-is for us to learn to listen to the voice of the Spirit in us. To be willing to view the things of this earth through the filter that the Son who lives in us-gives us.
He will train and equip me to fight the good fight with heavenly weapons....as His life becomes the life I live in and through.

In Matrix the movie- the humans can not fight against the force that is trying to control them unless they are hooked into the computer.
The battle is one that is fought in their minds.
See where I am going?
The battle we fight here on earth as Christians will be won or lost... beginning in our minds.
Our brains over the years have been trained by this world to believe that what we see is the only reality. The woman in the grocery store is downright rude......and if we are not careful.....we do not see recognize the true enemy whispering in her ear the words she spoke. Our husband says something that offends or deeply hurts us..and if we are not careful.....he becomes the enemy. You could put any number of scenarios here as example.
If we are going to remain free from the pull and lies of the enemy that is trying to control us...... we must learn to live in the opposite world.

A world where our minds are renewed to the truth.....minute by minute.
A place that remains a place of safety. A place that when the emotions of this world
start to trigger an ungodly reaction in us.....we can run and see the trick for what it is.
Our enemy thrives on the results of the havoc he has brought about in our world.
Just like the computer in The Matrix was fueled by the electrical energy of the humans connected to it........satan is fueled when we engage in evil instead of good.

So today I want to remember to live in the life that is opposite to this world....the world that my eyes see. I want to see through His eyes. The only way to do that is to remain in Him.
How do I do that?
I remember the truth. And then I allow Him to renew my mind to that truth.
How do I do that?
I stay in the Word.......it will clean out the lies and trash that bombard my mind and eyes.
And.....I stay connected to the real world through prayer.
I thank Him that He has given me the mind of Christ. I thank Him that this is not my home.
And I thank Him for sending the Spirit to lead and guide me into all truth.
The Spirit will be the glasses through which I view this world. He will teach me when to fight the good fight with words and when to keep my mouth shut and pray. He will teach me that what comes natural to my flesh....well, it is not of the Spirit.
There will be tests. Times when the Spirit will step back and let me see what I have learned....and where I have not yet arrived.
But until the day when we will see Him face to face and we shall be as He is-----

I will strive by His grace and love to continue living
the opposite life
until His life is found whole and complete in me.

Thanks for taking this journey through my mind. ;)

Pictures and quote from The Wikipedia free encyclopedia.