Glitch in the Matrix + Discussion Guide

A 12 Year Old Discovers the Truth!

Sarah looked around her room nervously. Nothing had changed from that morning, or really even from that week. It was the same bedroom with the same pile of laundry on the dresser, same slightly unmade bed. The only thing that was notably different this afternoon was HER.  

You see, Sarah had gone to her middle school classroom that day and listened to her teacher (Ms. Wythe) talk about this thing called “The Matrix.” Ms. Wythe said that some people believe that they are IN the matrix. She said that the Matrix is a false reality being pulled over our eyes, so that what we see isn’t real. The walls in her house weren't really walls. The apple she ate in the kitchen, wasn’t really an apple. Her parents weren’t really her parents, they were just a simulation by a computer program. “We’re being tricked by someone to keep us under control,” said Ms. Wythe. “We need to find reality by doing what we feel like doing and escaping this construct of reality,” she said.

Sarah went home perplexed that afternoon. Her mind was spinning. Was this life real? Did she even exist?  At dinner that night, she told her mom and dad about what Ms. Wythe said, and her dad said it was a “fairytale for grown ups.” He said that what we see is what we get and that’s it.

The conversation helped calm Sarah’s nerves that night and she was able to go to sleep, but the next day, the Matrix conversation continued in Ms. Wythe’s class. 

The students were still interested in hearing about this new worldview and began asking the teacher lots of questions to try to stump her. She finally said, “Look, have you ever had that feeling that you can’t quite explain, but you know it’s there? It’s like there’s something missing, something wrong with life. Like someone else is pulling the strings? This matrix theory explains that you are a slave to the matrix. The world around you has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth. 

“What IS the truth?” Sarah asked anxiously. “You are being controlled,” said Ms. Wythe. The bell rang and students began to file out of class and headed out toward the busses, Sarah sat in her chair, in a fog. She didn’t even noticed when another girl, Alexandra, stopped by her desk and said “Sarah? Sarah?”  Sarah snapped out of her thoughts and said, “Oh, hi. Sorry, this is really tripping me out right now.” “I think we should talk,” said Alexandra.

“Sure,” Sarah said. “I’ll just text my parents, and we can walk home.” Alexandra lived just down the street from Sarah. She’d lived there for a few years, and had always been a pleasant person to be around. In fact, Sarah kind of looked up to “Alex” as she called her, because she was nice to everyone. She was different than most of the girls because she didn’t get pulled into all the drama, so of course that meant that she wasn’t super popular, but she had this serenity about her that other people appreciated regardless.

They got what they needed from their lockers and started walking home. Alex listened intently as Sarah began to share her thoughts and fears that she might be IN the matrix in real life. How did she even know that Alex existed? Was this all fake? Sarah caught her up to speed on her worries and asked what she thought about it all. 

Alex had a small black book in her hand that she always carried around with her at school. She stopped walking and flipped through the pages for a second asking, “So you feel like someone is tricking you?” “Yes, that’s exactly it!” said Sarah.

Alex looked down at her book, and read “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ…”

“Huh?” said Sarah, “Are you saying I’m an unbeliever?” 

“You said you feel tricked… I’m giving you a reason for that,” replied Alex.

“I know it doesn’t make sense right now, but can I read a couple more passages?”

Alex had already earned Sarah’s respect from seeing how she was with other people around school and how pleasant their interactions had always been, and though this seemed a little crazy, she was willing to hear what was important to Alex even if she wasn't going to agree.

“Sure, go ahead,” said Sarah.

Alex turned to another page and read, “Opponents must be gently instructed, the the hope that God will grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.”

“Where did you find that?” Asked Sarah. “2nd Timothy 2:25,” said Alex as she looked up another passage.

“The teacher was talking about being stuck in the matrix,” said Alex. “I think she’s on to something, but not what you think. The bible says that those who don’t believe have been taken captive and don’t even know it because they are spiritually blinded by the devil.” 

“I don’t believe in the devil,” said Sarah.

“Check this out,” said Alex kindly as she read from Ephesians 6. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” 

“I don’t believe that,” said Sarah.

Alex looked at her with a bit of charm and said, “Well, if you ever want to talk more about it, I’ll be around.” She put the book in her bag and the two continued walking home talking about other things.

That night, Sarah could not get to sleep. She kept thinking about the things that Alex read. She also thought about Alex and how approachable she was. There was something she just couldn’t get around. She DID feel like she was being tricked. Like someone was pulling the wool over her eyes. Alex had said it was the devil, not the matrix. The way she said it wasn’t judgy, it was almost reluctant, wistful and honest, like she just wanted to help her out.

What was there to believe? How could she escape this trap? She decided, that she was going to find out.

The next day at lunch, Sarah saw Alex and walked over to her. “I’ve been thinking about what you said,” said Sarah. “I’d like to talk about it some more if that’s ok.”

“Of course, Alex smiled hospitably.

 

“I hope you know that I wasn’t judging you,” said Alex.

“Of course not, I’m just trying see things from your perspective,” said Sarah. “So, tell me some more about your theory.”

“Well, there’s more going on than meets the eye,” Alex replied. “Sometimes people realize that, and they are told that it’s “The Matrix,” but that’s a lie. It’s just a story that’s told to keep people from realizing the truth.”

“What is the truth?” asked Sarah inquisitively.

“There is a dominion of darkness. A dominion of Satan. All who follow him will end up in the lake of fire,” said Alex.

“What’s that?” asked Sarah. 

“The lake of fire is the second death,” said Alex. “Anyone who’s name is not found written in the book of life will be thrown into the lake of fire.” 

“What are you talking about? This doesn’t make any sense!” said Sarah intensely.

“When God made the world, he saw that it was good, but Adam and Eve, the first people, chose to disobey God, and sin entered the world,” Alex continued.

“Sin, that’s like when you do something wrong, right??” interjected Sarah.

“Yah, exactly said Alex. “When we sin, we come under the power of the evil one. He blinds our eyes, and hardens our hearts. Just like being caught in the matrix, but it’s not a computer program, it’s supernatural. Almost everyone you see is caught under his spell.”

“How do you get out?” asked Sarah.

“The Son of God has come to give us understanding,” said Alex

Just then, the school bell rang and students started shuffling off toward class.

“The Son of God is Jesus,” said Alex as she stood up and got ready to go to her next class.

“I want to talk more later,” said Sarah. “I want to know everything you know about this.”

“Alright,” said Alex on her way out. “Talk to you later.”

The rest of the day went by quickly for Sarah and she looked for Alex after school, but couldn’t find her. She texted and found out that Alex had to leave early to go to a dentist appointment that afternoon, so she decided to wait till the next day to talk with her.  

That night, Sarah’s mind was swimming with all the new information that Alex had shared with her. Her thoughts went back and forth with all the things that Ms. Wythe  and Alex had said. She did feel like something was off. Was she plugged into the matrix? Did she even exist? Could what Alex said be true? Is there more to life than just what we see? Is there really a way to be set free from this spiritual blindness that Alex was talking about?    

She wasn’t really sure when it happened, but eventually she went to sleep.

That night, she had a dream. It seemed like it was more than just a dream, it seemed real. More real than anything else she had experienced. She dreamed that her and Alex were sitting on a small, bright white couch. The couch was suspended over nothingness. Everything else was pitch black. She knew that if she fell off the couch, she would fall into a chasm that just kept going and going.

She could feel something strange was starting to happen. She could hear demons begin to come up near the couch. Then they grabbed her arms and tried to pull her off of the couch! She was helpless, she cried out in fear, and Alex fought for her. Alex grabbed her, and stood up on the couch, trying to keep Sarah on the couch. Alex began to use the name of Jesus in her fight against the demons, and they quickly retreated, but one of them bit her arm, and with a loud yell, she woke up, breathing heavily and in a cold sweat. It was morning, and she quickly looked at her arm, and it had two small reddish bite marks still on it. 

She quickly got up, got dressed, and arranged to meet Alex before school started that day.

Sarah was quite distraught from the dream, but knew that it had significance. She now knew that the other world Alex had been talking about was real and the devil was angry that she was starting to realize the truth.

She told Alex everything that happened and showed Alex her arm. The bite marks had since disappeared, but she knew Alex believed her when she said, “I’ve been praying for you. Only God can help someone see what’s actually happening. Only he can prepare your heart for what you need to do. Do you know what he wants?”

Sarah paused for a moment, but knew exactly what needed to happen. “I need God’s help. I want to be set free from this captivity.” Tears welled up in her eyes as she said, “I like what I see in you, Alex. Honestly, I respect you a lot, and I want to be more like you are. After the dream, I know that you’re on God’s side, and I want that too.”

Alex reached out for a hug and said very sincerely, “Thank you. That was nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me. I don’t know that I have it all figured out, but I’m trying.”

The two embraced tearfully for a few more moments, then Alex sniffled a bit and said, “Let me show you something.” 

She turned in her small Bible to 1 John 5:18 and read, “We know that anyone born of God does not keep on sinning; the One who was born of God protects him, and the evil one cannot touch him. We know that we are of God and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in Him who is true- in His Son Jesus Christ.”  

“Listen,” Alex said. “We’re gonna sin. We’re gonna mess up, but we don’t have to die in that sin, because Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil.”

“Will God ever be able to forgive me?” asked Sarah.

“Absolutely,” said Alex. “If you want forgiveness, there’s an unlimited amount at the cross, and God helps us to turn from our sins.”

“What does that mean?” asked Sarah. Alex thought for a moment and said “Well, God meets us right where we are and helps us start to make better choices.”

Sarah chuckled for a second, “Better choices equals fewer regrets.”

Alex smiled and added, “Forgiveness equals eternal life.”

Discussion Guide:

What kinds of things have your teachers discussed in your classrooms that promote going against the truth of Scripture?

 

Have you ever been encouraged to doubt reality?             

 

metaphysics

 

1 a (1) : a division of philosophy that is concerned with the fundamental nature of reality and being and that includes ontology, cosmology, and often epistemology

metaphysics … analyzes the generic traits manifested by existences of any kind —J. H. Randall

 

Dan. 8:12 Because of rebellion, the LORD's people and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground.

 

How much does it matter what kind of person you are?

The bible says that it’s important to have a good witness

 

2 Cor 5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

 

How important was it to Sarah, that she respected Alex?

 

What kinds of things did Alex do right?

-Lived by example, Listened, Prayed, Was Patient, Knew her Bible, etc.

 

Have you ever wondered if there is more going on than you can see?

 

Additional Scriptures:

2 Corinthians 3:14

John 3:19

1 John 3:8

Ephesians 2:2-3

Acts 26:18