That you are a slave...

In the popular movie franchise entitled 'The Matrix,' the protagonist character Thomas Anderson, also known by his computer hacker name Neo, is confronted with a terrible truth about his own existence. The horrific truth that his entire world is in fact an illusion; a computer constructed virtual reality controlled by mechanical masters. Awakening from this illusion reveals a reality in which the human race is enslaved in physical bondage by a race of machines. Machines that mankind itself created and that ultimately became self-aware, enslaving mankind with its superior intellectual and physical power, and converting all of mankind and our bio-electrical energy into a Duracell-like power supply. Man tried to play God by inventing self-actualized machines, only to be subjugated by his own creation to the brink of extinction. As engrossing and terrifying as this storyline is, the Hard Truth is that the words spoken to Neo about his condition were not far from the real plight of mankind on this side of the movie screen.

The "feeling that a veil had been pulled over" Neo's eyes to blind him from the truth, the truth that he is a slave to some unknown master, struck a deep chord with audiences. The success of the film, although full of visual stimulus and technological gimmicks for its time, had as much to do with the power of this plot point as with any other element of the film. So why the deep reaction in us? Why are we so strangely able to relate to Neo's feeling of fascination and horror as this truth is painfully revealed to him?

The truth is that written on the hearts of all men and women is the reality that we are in fact in bondage. We are all slaves. By the sin of Adam in his rejection of God's law, all mankind has fallen into bondage to sin. A far more devastating and dangerous master than any self-aware machine civilization.

For the machines may use the power of the human body to run their cities until the bodies of the trapped humans die, they cannot destroy the eternal soul of the people they enslave. Sin however has the power to enslave in death as well. When the body dies, the soul moves on into eternity. The curse of Adam's original sin against God causes our death, but the stain of sin continues into eternity as we face the judgement of a holy God for the violation of his law. We are condemned by our debt which we in life and death are unable to pay.

Slaves throughout our lives to this invisible enemy which we harbor within us, we act in rebellion to God, denying him, hiding ourselves from the authority he has over our lives. We live in an illusion of blamelessness but wonder why we suffer as we do. Why we experience pain and loss and a sense that somehow something is missing that will truly allow us peace and the happiness we seek. Struggling in this world to tear open the veil that blinds our eyes from the truth. The truth about our lives, our nature, and our purpose.

There is another world of at the bottom of the rabbit hole.

It's the Hard Truth that you are a slave.

The end of 'The Matrix' reveals to the audience a hopeful solution to man's problem. Hope that there is a savior, a hero to awaken all humanity to the truth of their existence and take back the world, "The One."

Fortunately for us, here in the real world, God has provided that hero. A savior.

One who accomplished his purpose without choosing to "dodge bullets."