Take The Red Pill

Luke 14:25-34 (The Message)

Figure the Cost

 25-27One day when large groups of people were walking along with him, Jesus turned and told them, "Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters—yes, even one's own self!—can't be my disciple. Anyone who won't shoulder his own cross and follow behind me can't be my disciple.

 28-30"Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn't first sit down and figure the cost so you'll know if you can complete it? If you only get the foundation laid and then run out of money, you're going to look pretty foolish. Everyone passing by will poke fun at you: 'He started something he couldn't finish.'
 31-32"Or can you imagine a king going into battle against another king without first deciding whether it is possible with his ten thousand troops to face the twenty thousand troops of the other? And if he decides he can't, won't he send an emissary and work out a truce?
 33"Simply put, if you're not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can't be my disciple.
 34"Salt is excellent. But if the salt goes flat, it's useless, good for nothing.
"Are you listening to this? Really listening?"
* WATCH Video Clip of the Matrix – Blue or Red
Morpheus offers Neo only truth.  There are no other guarantees.  Only the truth.  Interestingly enough, the word for faith in Hebrews 11:1-10 (New King James Version),

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible,

is guarantee, assurance, evidence, fidelity, sincerity of intentions, and absolute confidence in things not seen . . . ultimately, it is in truth that we deposit all our being, our future, our lives.  Anything less than the truth causes suspicion and by definition, we cannot trust, i.e. have faith in.

The notion of pills is a fascinating one.  The blue pill suggests we are living a life of habit.  A life without purpose or, in the best case, superfluous purpose.  Doesn’t it seem as if most human beings in the United States live out their time on earth enacting a series of rote behaviors and perfunctory actions that are woven into a rationalized existence?  Despite socio-economic factors, I see this as a reality of our contemporary existence that truly transcends all financial circumstances, levels of education, race, ethnicity or gender.  All levels experience angst, feelings of stagnation and wonder about tomorrow as being typical & mundane.  How are we living and ultimately, for what?  What are we living for?  I’m afraid that the answer is not that distinguishable between a Christian and a non-Christian.  

All of our lives are affected by these circumstances and by the sense of complacent routine.  Ironically, there is safety in the typical and a sense of superfluous comfort that tends to limit or discourage living out our full potential.   

I believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ, if faithfully lived, challenges everything I have previously suggested.  In fact, I am convinced that the nature of living for Christ – alone – will disarm all of the trappings and insecurities we have about living as God desires us to live.  How? 

To live for Christ is to live in genuine freedom.  It is to embrace our brokenness, embrace our humanity and find that in the process of becoming whole, we become family.  We become everything that typical families tend to shield, hide or rationalize.  The shame, guilt, interference and loyalties so often associated with blood and family ties are forfeited so we become a family by the blood of Christ.  In this new society, in this new “Matrix” of community, we disregard all that is about us - we dies to it – in order for us to receive life in its abundance, in its fullest expression.

That’s what I find as brilliant in the segment of film we just saw.  The blue pill is the security we have in the tangible and in the now.  It is the pathway of excuses for why things are and the rationalization for they need to continue to be the way they are.  Whether its family, ministry, work, school or other inter/intrapersonal exchanges, we can continue to live through them – making due and getting by – or we can be transformed in such a fashion so as to become all that God desires us to be.  That’s what the red bill is all about, I think. 

I’ll take some license and suggest that it’s pretty amazing that the pill that causes all of the scales to fall from our eyes and sees things for what they really are is red like blood.  All too cool. 

After you take from the cup and drink his blood.  After you take the red pill, my friends.  All of your inter/intrapersonal experiences will be altered because they will no longer be about you.  They’ll be about Him.  About Jesus.  Ironically, it’s when we begin to live for him, that our lives become sincerely noticeable to us for the first time.  We’ll notice our hearts for the first time, for they will begin to beat for others and break for others – for the first time.  It’s when they begin to break for others, that we begin to live as fulfilled and purposed brothers & sisters.  No longer as singular entities trying to make sense of it (the blue pill), but rather, as members of a body seeking to live out the purpose that He instills in us (the red pill).  Once He notices you, you’ll notice yourself as one of His children.  Once you realize what God intends for you, you will proclaim it from the top of the roofs and from the highest mountains.                

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Noticed

John 4:21-30 (The Message)

21-23"Believe me, woman, the time is coming when you Samaritans will worship the Father neither here at this mountain nor there in Jerusalem. You worship guessing in the dark; we Jews worship in the clear light of day. God's way of salvation is made available through the Jews. But the time is coming—it has, in fact, come—when what you're called will not matter and where you go to worship will not matter.
 23-24"It's who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That's the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration."
 25The woman said, "I don't know about that. I do know that the Messiah is coming. When he arrives, we'll get the whole story."
 26"I am he," said Jesus. "You don't have to wait any longer or look any further."
 27Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked. They couldn't believe he was talking with that kind of a woman. No one said what they were all thinking, but their faces showed it.
 28-30The woman took the hint and left. In her confusion she left her water pot. Back in the village she told the people, "Come see a man who knew all about the things I did, who knows me inside and out. Do you think this could be the Messiah?" And they went out to see for themselves.

I’m going to try something unusual tonight.  I’d like to share two songs with you as part of the Message.  As the song is played, the lyrics will appear on the screen.  Please read them as the song plays on and pray, reflect, contemplate, cry, sing along -  do anything you feel called to do as you remember the first time you noticed your heart touched by God.  If tonight is the first time you feel your heart aglow and stirring – receive Him with the certainty that you are loved in Christ and you are among your brothers & sisters.  Let us know and we’ll pray with you.       

NOTICED – Mute Math

Careful when you open
It's easy to be broken
In the strangest fashion
You start a chain reaction
You look my way
Something's pounding away
And I wonder if I ever felt this before

All this time
It was starring me blind
I can't believe I never
noticed my heart before

Chorus:
You are reaching for
something that is beating
I can't believe I never
noticed my heart before
Over and again, racing out of my skin
I can't believe I've never
noticed my heart before

At least it was never so obvious as now
Or never, put me back together
In the perfect fashion
Just watch my heart's reaction
This part of you is nothing that I'm used to
But I won't close my eyes
cause they're on to you

All this time
It was staring me blind
I can't believe I never
noticed my heart before

Chorus:
You are reaching for
something that is beating
I can't believe I never
noticed my heart before
Over and again, racing out of my skin
I can't believe I've never
noticed my heart before
At least was never so obvious as now

The only time I ever noticed my heart
When I noticed You , Yeah
The only time I ever noticed my heart
When I noticed You , Yeah
You yeah
You yeah

Chorus:
You are reaching for
something that is beating
I can't believe I never
noticed my heart before
Over and again, racing out of my skin
I can't believe I've never
noticed my heart before

Til I noticed you yeah
I noticed you yeah
When I noticed you yeah
You yeah
When I noticed you yeah
I noticed You yeah
That's the only time I ever
noticed my heart before

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TYPICAL (A NEW DAY, A NEW LIFE)

Mark 5:25-30 (The Message)

25-29A woman who had suffered a condition of hemorrhaging for twelve years—a long succession of physicians had treated her, and treated her badly, taking all her money and leaving her worse off than before—had heard about Jesus. She slipped in from behind and touched his robe. She was thinking to herself, "If I can put a finger on his robe, I can get well." The moment she did it, the flow of blood dried up. She could feel the change and knew her plague was over and done with.

TYPICAL – Mute Math

Come on, can I dream for one day?
There's nothing that can't be done
But how long should it take somebody
Before they can be someone

Cuz I know there's got to be another level
Somewhere closer to the other side
And I'm feelin' like it's now or never
Can I break the spell of the typical?

Now I've lived through my share of misfortune
And I've worked in the blazing sun
But how long should it take somebody
Before they can be someone

Cuz I know there's got to be another level
Somewhere closer to the other side
And I'm feelin' like it's now or never
Can I break the spell of the typical?

I'm the typical
I'm the typical
Can I break the spell of the typical?

Because it's draggin' me down
Oh, I'd like to know about when
When does it all turn around?

Yeah I know there's got to be another level
Somewhere closer to the other side
And I'm feelin' like it's now or never
Can I break the spell of the typical?

Break the spell (of the typical)
Break the spell (of the typical)
Can I break the spell of the typical?

I'm just the typical
I'm just the typical
I'm just the typical
I'm just the typical

The “typical” woman of this story became a daughter of the King through a touch, a transformation of the most intimate kind.  For 12 years, a broken, hemorrhaging woman, was praying for the day that “breaks the spell of the typical” and have her life turn around getting closer to the other side of her pain, shame, fatigue and loss of hope.  On this day, she broke through the crowds, she pushed through the crowds, feeling like “it’s now or never” hoping to touch the Master who makes all things new.     

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COUNT THE COSTS

Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t warn you.  It seems all too appropriate as Morpheus warned Neo about the uncertainties of his future journey should he wish to take the red pill.  The problem with many messages proclaiming the transformative power of life in Christ is that seems too romantic.  In fact, it is false advertising.  The truth, as Morpheus, offered Neo, comes with a price.  Scripture clearly promises that trial and tribulation will come to those who seek the kingdom with all of their hearts & minds.  At some point in time, you’ll be taken through the valleys, the wilderness and experience suffering of some kind.  It’s only right and sincere to share this “full disclosure” with each of you who may seek to renew (Neo) your commitments to Christ, or may be taking the red pill for the first time tonight – a brand new (Neo) start to your life. 

Luke 14:25-34 (The Message)

25-27One day when large groups of people were walking along with him, Jesus turned and told them, "Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters—yes, even one's own self!—can't be my disciple. Anyone who won't shoulder his own cross and follow behind me can't be my disciple.

33"Simply put, if you're not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can't be my disciple.
 34"Salt is excellent. But if the salt goes flat, it's useless, good for nothing.
"Are you listening to this? Really listening?"

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So, now you’ve listened and the context & conditions have been laid out before each one of you – before me as well.  If we are to be the dynamic, living and organic body of Christ in the city and to one another, then we need to figure the costs.  We need to make a conscientious decision to follow him – no matter what.  That’s the red pill, people.  Only truth is offered.  Truth that will lead to healing, forgiveness, freedom, wisdom, grace, peace and above all else, God’s immeasurable love.  But like Christ, we will experience hardships, division, challenges and confusion.  If we tell Jesus that we’ll go wherever He goes, then we need to be ready to rough it. 

Count the costs, follow Him anywhere He goes, no matter what.  Seems a bit harsh when compared to the comfortable routine we called life.  Perhaps that what’s so scandalous of our faith, we die to self in order to live.  Once we’ve crossed over to the other side, the red pill, we will encounter a joy, purpose and life unlike anything previously imagined. 

All I offer is the truth.  It’s up to you.  Which pill will you choose? 

THE END