I was having lunch with a friend a while back and we got to talking about what God is doing in the world as of late. How God is and has been doing revivals right in our backyard. All we have to do is choose to see God working. I ended up mentioning to him a recent Matt Walsh video where he says that he is not playing the fence and chooses to fight evil instead of tucking his tail between his legs and giving in, just to make the other side happy. That made me reflect on a quote from a favorite movie of mine, John Carpenter’s They Live.
They Live is a thought-provoking commentary on the ways in which society can be manipulated and controlled. In the film, the main character John Nada (who is played by Roddy Piper) discovers a pair of special sunglasses that allow him to see the world as it really is – a world where subliminal messages and hidden agendas are everywhere.
There is a scene where John Nada and his friend Frank are having a conversation about the world they live in. Frank, who is unaware of the hidden reality around him, tells Nada that he is not interested in getting involved in anything that might compromise his comfortable life. Frank says, “I’ve walked a white line my entire life, I’m not about to screw that up.”
Nada responds with a powerful statement, saying “White line’s in the middle of the road, that’s the worst place to drive.” This exchange is a powerful metaphor for the ways in which we can be blinded by the lies and deceptions of the world. We may think that we are seeing things clearly, but in reality, we are only seeing what we want to see. We are driving on the white lines, unable to see the bigger picture.
As Christians, we are called to live a life that is grounded in the truth of God’s word, not just the expectations of the world around us. We are called to be agents of change, speaking out against injustice and standing up for what is right, even if it means going against the status quo.
I feel like many of us have been driving on the white lines for some time, trying not to offend people, trying to make everyone happy, and slowly sacrificing the truth, sacrificing values to the point where we are driving in the other lane. Things are fine until that oncoming car collides with us
In the book of Romans, Paul writes, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” – Romans 12:2. This verse reminds us that we must be willing to step outside of the white lines in the middle of the road and to follow the path that God has laid out for us.
As followers of Jesus, it is our responsibility to seek the truth and to live our lives in a way that reflects the love of Christ. We must be willing to take off the glasses of deception and see the world as it really is. We must be willing to speak out against injustice and to stand up for what is right, even if it means going against the popular opinion. We must hold true to our values, but must be willing to love our neighbor as ourselves, even if they are different from us or hold different beliefs.
In the end, “They Live” is a reminder that we must always be vigilant in our pursuit of truth and righteousness. We must be willing to see the world as it really is, and to live our lives in a way that reflects the light of Christ. May we all strive to be “unplugged” from the lies and deceptions of the world, and to live a life that is grounded in truth and love.
I would like to give a disclaimer here. They Live is a rated-R movie. I believe God can be found in even the darkest of places, however, I not endorsing this movie nor am I recommending anyone to watch it. If you are interested in this movie, please look into it before you watch it. Here is the parent’s guide. To be clear, this is not a Christian movie or a family-friendly movie and may cause those who do not use discernment to stumble.
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