The Ultimate World War

Things are not what they seem.

What appears to be the path to peace and fulfillment is often a glass ceiling.
We are being bought off.
Pacified with pleasure, we forget and neglect our noble calling, and the arduous work demanded of us to become men of glory.
Only by becoming a man of glory can we obtain the peace that surpasses all understanding.

Today’s post I will:

1. Discuss what the ULTIMATE WORLD WAR is
2. Identify the two opposing kingdoms and the characteristics of both
3. Outline the three disastrous consequences of serving the wrong kingdom.

The film The Matrix depicts a war between humanity and intelligent machines that enslave and pacify mankind in a technological stimulated dystopia.
Morpheus liberates humans from the Matrix —including Neo.
Morpheus gives Neo an ultimatum:

Take the blue pill and return to the matrix.
That is, be bought off by pacified pleasure.

Or take the red pill and be awakened to the unsettling truth, the reality, which will be arduous, dangerous….
but also, the only way to fulfillment and glory.

Neo is the exemplar of free will – he must choose his destiny.
Will he “blue-pill” and pacify himself, or “red-pill” and embrace reality?

You and I live amidst a war between two kingdoms: The World and The Word.
Christians often profess that they are in the world but not of the world.
Yet, most of us cannot tell the difference.

Most people believe that they are red-pilled.
Red-pilled regarding the World health organization…
regarding environmentalism…
regarding government politics…

But daily we choose the blue pill —the pacifying dopamine hits offered by the socially stimulated matrix.
Meanwhile we forget reality and eternity.

Like Neo, we must choose which kingdom we will serve.

Let’s compare these two kingdoms.

When I use the word “World” I am not referring to nature, creation or even technology.
These are morally natural.
The biblical sense of the word “world” refers to individuals, systems, institutions, and governments who are hostile toward or indifferent to the Word.

Who is the ruler of the world?

Jesus says in John 14:30 that the liar, the deceiver, the murderer from the beginning is “the prince of this world.” Or as John 12:31 says: he is “the ruler of this world.”

Jesus is clear: “My kingdom is not of this world,” (Jn 18:36).

This is unsettling.

If we live for the world, we consequently are not of the Word.
When we live for the world, we are living for the deceiver.

Who do these kingdoms love and who do they hate?

Jesus tells us in John 15 “The World loves its own.”
The world loves those who promote false ideologies.
The world honors the immoral.
The world applauds those who make health and wealth a god.

But the world hates you. Or at least it should—if you are on the right side.

But Christ? He loves you to the very end (See Jn 12:1).
The World will persecute you and reject you (See Jn 15:20).
But Jesus says, “I have chosen you out of the world. Whoever comes to me I will never reject” (See Jn 15:19).

One kingdom is passing, the other is eternal.

The world passes away ( 1 Jn 2:17).
But Jesus promises: My Word remains (See Mt 24:35).

What are the consequences?

“He who loves the world the charity of the Father is not in him” (1 Jn 2:15).
But Jesus says, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my Word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home in him” (Jn 14:23).
If we remain in the Word; the Word remains in us (See Jn 15).

But be warned, “He who is a friend of the world is an enemy of God” (Jas 4:4).

The World and the Word appear to be very similar.
Both kingdoms offer peace, glory and pleasure.
“World” and “Word” are spelled the same, except for one letter: “L” in world.
The “L” stands for lie.
The world and its offering are a deception.
Its ruler promises heaven on earth.

But be warned: striving to make your heaven on earth becomes a personal hell.
Life on Earth is not heaven, but a preparation for it.
Those who live for the world exchange eternal glory for temporal passivity.

Three consequences If we subscribe to the world’s maxims:

1. We lose the presence of God the Father and His love.
2. We become an enemy of truth…we are bought off and buy into the lie.
3. We pass away and forfeit eternal life.

You and I, like Neo, have a choice: to either blue-pill on the maxims and promises of the world, believing its false promises.
Or red-pill and live by Christ’s Word—His Truth, which sets us free.

To be red-pilled is to rebel against the world’s deceptions and its ruler.

The pill is the color of red because it is the color of the blood of the martyrs.
Blood is the cost of glory.

But do not worry.
Our Lord promises, “Be of courage, I have overcome the world” Jn16:33).
“Because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 Jn 4:4).

Devin Schadt | Executive Director of the Fathers of St. Joseph

Ite ad Joseph