Faith or Fear?

In the movie ,The Matrix, Neo is escorted, on a rainy night, by a group of countercultural misfits. Part geek, part chic, they act as though they are smarter than the rest of the world. Neo is controlled at gunpoint and taken to an old abandoned building under the promise of meeting the infamous Morpheus. Here he will be offered some pills from a dark stranger wearing reflective sunglasses and a black trench coat - and he willingly swallows one of the pills!
What would compel him to do so? He is driven by a desire he can no longer resist. An insatiable curiosity and a holy dissatisfaction with the norm push him to abandon restraint. He is motivated to take extraordinary risks now because he can no longer stay in the dull world or normal life... Of business as usual.
There are polite greetings. Then a most interesting dialog ensues.
Morpheus begins by describing Neo's plight as similar to Alice falling down the rabbit hole in Lewis Cazrroll's story. He comments that Neo has the look of one who accepts only what he sees because he is in a dream and about to awaken, which is ironically very close to the truth. Morpheus tells Neo why they brought him here. It is his chance to learn what the Matrix is; Morpheus asks if he wants to know.
Neo nods slowly, but without hesitation, as if realizing that this is a turning point in his life, marking a change forever. Thereafter, Morpheus opens a small silver box, takes two pills from it, and informs Neo that mere description is not enough; he must see it for himself to understand. Morpheus then leans forward, with a pill in each hand.
"This is your last chance. After this, there is no going back. You take the blue pill, the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to. You take the red pill, and I will show you how deep the rabbit hole goes." Neo slowly deliberately reaches for the red pill. He takes the red pill and the adventure begins.
This is an explanation about the movie explained well by Neil Cole in his book, The Organic Church. It reflects something else that is also real. There is a red pill of sorts that opens our eyes to a more vivid reality of the Kingdom of God. It is the truth of God's Word that we need in order to be set free and unleash the power of His kingdom on this planet. The Scriptures have always held the truth, but our mind has been blinded by a warped sense of spiritual reality, in many cases. This book could open our eyes to see the church, the Kingdom, and our role in both in a more vivid and real light.
Every person has a choice of what pill they will take. Is it the red pill (faith)? Or is it the blue pill (fear)? (No I am not encouraging popping pills.) The blue pill is filled with fear of the unknown and security in the present. The red pill is filled with faith in following Jesus and finding your only source of security is in Him. Allow me to add that there are many Christians who are choosing to take the blue pill after their first initial step of faith in Jesus. These people go forward in life only if the ground before them is sure and secure. And as they step onto new ground they may ask God to come along and hang with them. After all ,as a Christian, they must throw up a little prayer to ask God to bless them, right?
In living in Music City USA, Nashville, TN., I have personally heard and seen many who come to that city in hopes of a country music dream. They leave all they have and place their faith in the music execs on "music square". I have to give it up for them. Here are people willing to take a step of faith, the crazy kind, and try and make it happen. Wow! In many cases, they take bigger steps of faith then those who are Christians! These people are inspiring! And in the same way God always calls his people to a "crazy kind of faith". A faith that knows no bounds. A faith that makes ordinary living boring. A faith that explores the rabbit hole and finds a life worth living. A faith that reveals your god-given purpose in life. And a faith that is not rooted in empty promises from music gooroos but rooted in solid promises that Christ will never leave you.
Our most recent "crazy faith jump" was moving from the place we called home in Nashville, TN. My wife's family lives there and everything that we know since us calling it home in 1991. Now why in the world would we go to an unfamiliar place and leave our place of comfort and security? Simply put - because the Creator told us to do it. And the great part about it is that our heart's desires are being fulfilled. We are experiencing God in a better and different way than we ever have. We are being held up by the Great Provider! The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 5 that we are justified by faith! It is by faith alone that we are justified in Him. Further along in 2 Corinthians 5:7, Paul says we walk by faith and not by sight. Friend, if you call yourself a Christ-follower, then you have two choices: Either walk by faith or walk by sight aka fear. Which will you choose? Faith or Fear?

Let me ask you. Are you living a life worth living? Are you finding purpose in life? The only way to do that is by turning your back on fear and have a "crazy kind of faith" and make the plunge into a life of faith!