When The Matrix was released in 1999, it changed the way that we see movies. It was revolutionary in its approach. The way it was filmed and the story line it presented, challenged everything that we knew about movies.
At the heart of the movie, was a story of a man named Neo, who was searching for answers in his life. He was trying to figure out what was really happening around him. But before he could see the truth, he would have to make a choice. This choice would define everything about his life and would change his reality going forward.
An answer to the question...
I believe that today it's much the same for us as Christians. Whether you have been saved for 50 years or 5 minutes, we all want to know the truth that God has in store for our lives. But in order to see the real truth, we have to disconnect ourselves from the a system that holds you as a slave.
The thing you will hear constantly at The Assembly is the phrase, "We are a gathering of people for a GREATer purpose!" But to find that GREATer purpose, you have to take a step of faith that requires action. When we do that, we will see that life is more than just being happy. It is defined by the purposes that God has created each one of us with.
Neo had doubts about his life and surroundings. Those doubts drove him to seek what more was out there. Even in Christian circles, there are those that have doubts from time to time. Those doubts will cause us to go deeper and to seek the truth. One of the movements that has gained steam over the last few years in churches is the idea of "Deconstruction." I have known many people who have tried walking out this path. Mainly because they did not see a match up of the God and Faith of the Bible to what they saw in their local church.
I would say this, I don't believe that God is intimidated by your questions. I don't believe that He has a problem with looking into what you really believe. As a matter of fact, the bible tells us that God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). But what happens in some Christian circles is that we begin to equate tradition and preferences as equivalent to SCRIPTURE. This is dangerous and often leads to confusion in Christians.
This movement of deconstruction can be healthy, if, it is based on scriptural truth and revelation. But many times instead building up their faith and grounding it in the reality of the Word, it actually leads to implosion of faith. And many have walked away from their faith.
Real relationship with God is not found in religious practice. It's found in surrender. True surrender is when we surrender all that we are to God and to His will. God has not demanded blind faith, but has given us all the evidence we need to live this out. Surrender is understanding that you may not have every answer to every question, but our faith is in the one that does.
This act of surrender is really an action of battle. What do I mean by that? It means that everyday we choose what side of the war we are in. There is a real heavenly war that is happening every day. You see in the bible from the opening pages, all the way to end. This battle is a battle for our hearts and what we will depend upon and surrender to.
It is a spiritual fight that we are engaged in. The way we win is not through divide and conquer, but through surrender. God desires that we surrender to Him. But this action of surrender is not about putting you under a system of dogmatic rules. It is about finding true freedom and real joy.
In the movie, Neo was a skilled hacker and computer guy. But he never discovered his real purpose in life until he submitted what he knew. When he made the choice to find the truth, is when he found out what freedom would cost and how different it looked from what he had lived.
God has something amazing in store for you life. But in order to discover this greater purpose, you will have submit to a God of all creation. You will have to see that when He is involved, it will change your life.
The enemy wants you to accept a lesser version of what God can offer. Many times, what he offers looks good. It may seem like your family will blessed or that you will get opportunities that come from God. But when you look closely at those things, you will see that do not draw you closer to God. They are a counterfeit.
Christianity is about surrendering control. It's about letting go of what you think to find the greater things that God has in store for your life. When we demand to be in control, we will reap some bad stuff. We will get back misery and conflict. The drive to be in control will actually keep you a slave to the system of this world. It will ultimately destroy your faith.
The things that you refuse to submit to God will be things that ultimately become the enemy. They will cause you to submit to them and they will put you under their rule. They will show up in your life as things like:
Lust
Greed
Possessions
Food
Morality
Anger
Etc.
No matter who are, no matter what you may think. You will surrender your life to something. And the truth, some of those things are dangerous.
Control can be your undoing. It can seem safe to have all the choices, but in reality, the boat is moving you in a direction that can and will destroy you. When those who seek to avoid God encounter Him, they have a choice to make. They can accept who He is and what He has for their lives, or become become an enemy and allow those passions to drive them.
But the good thing is this, God is not just sovereign and in control of all things, but He is also compassionate and not willing to let any of fall into a state of being unreachable. He desires to have a real and loving relationship with you. He can put all the pieces back together that have shattered. But it will take a step on your part...you have to submit to Him.
All the doubts, all the disillusions, can be changed in a moment. When we surrender to Him is when we find true freedom!
Check out this song... Hillsong Worship w/ Lauren Daigle, "I Surrender"
Blessings,
PJ