Construction and Destruction
A contrast
Originally posted on May 12, 2017 and I’ve touched on this subject since then.
I had to do a lot of editing on this one because while re-reading it, I couldn’t figure out what I was trying to say, so I know that readers couldn’t. Also it's a good thing that I rechecked my links.
I don't want to make this post political. But, I know that some will see politics here whether they really are here or not.
So, flock it.
Most of us remember The Matrix; I’ve seen the first of the movies and have bowed to the reviews of the other movies in the series and not bothered with them. But the writers of these movies definitely had some Bible knowledge. In the King James translation of the Bible, there are five usages of the phrase “the matrix.” They always refer to the womb and to the birth of a firstborn.
That thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD'S.
And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast: therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that openeth the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem.
All that openeth the matrix is mine; and every firstling among thy cattle, whether ox or sheep, that is male.
And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;
Every thing that openeth the matrix in all flesh, which they bring unto the LORD, whether it be of men or beasts, shall be thine: nevertheless the firstborn of man shalt thou surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem.
The same Hebrew word is used each time: רֶ֨חֶם (transliteration: rechem), though King James’ 47 translators didn’t always use “matrix” when translating the word ‘womb’ (and though modern Hebrew uses another word for a matrix of the artificial variety). The translators used it only when the writer pointed to the act of giving birth. That led me to research the etymology of the word matrix. It’s of Latin origin. and it does mean ‘womb,’ and, naturally following that definition, is this one: “an environment or material in which something develops; a surrounding medium or structure.” (As an aside, I found this definition interesting: “the substance between cells or in which structures are embedded.”)
Succinctly, a matrix is a biological or an artificial place where beings or things are built.
And so, we return to my assertion that the Devil is building his kingdom of lies—in counterpoint to the Kingdom of God which the latter has been building and continues to build.
This world is the Devil’s matrix - a place in which complex falsehoods are constructed, not to mention, large-scale thievery and massive destruction. Both God’s kingdom and the Devil’s kingdom have the terrestrial characteristics I’ve already pointed to, but I have not yet pointed to the most important dimension: the spiritual one.
So, let’s take this knowledge and apply it to the first example of the Enemy’s building.
God instructed the ancient Hebrews to dedicate each new completed (male) “construction” to Him. (As we, know, with free will being what it is, that didn’t always work out.) Additionally, God bestows these “constructions” on us as a blessing. Related to this is the importance of one’s lineage. This knowledge points to both past and future for almost every famous - and infamous - personage in the Bible, with Jesus’ human lineage being of the utmost importance. That He is and is called the Son of David makes this clear.
Conversely, the Adversary is building his kingdom of dead bodies and deadened souls. Abortion, as a singular act of murder is, through Jesus the Christ, a forgivable sin, if the murderer asks Him for forgiveness and repents. But the Devil has built his kingdom of abortion. The physical, economic, and political aspects of it are manifestations of its unseen foundation, and that foundation is spiritual.
Opponents and proponents of abortion have referred to it as a “sacrament” - that is, an outward symbol which its proponents find to be holy. Here in America, we have embedded abortion not only into the very finances of our national body, but into the spirits of many of our country’s citizens. [Ed. Note: this post was originally composed well before the repeal of Roe v. Wade.] Therefore, it makes sense that abortion advocates view it as sane and moral and view their anti-abortion counterparts as evil. This is a mental and spiritual implantation of the Adversary’s ultimate goal: destruction of human beings = good and pro-woman; saving human beings = evil.
Call it a method of spiritual in vitro fertilization.
True pro-choice ideology is where a woman may decide to let her baby live, but few public abortion advocates push that choice. The de facto pro-abortion stance is such that only one choice is good, right and pro-woman: death to the baby. That’s how you know that the mindset is influenced by the Devil.
The irony of this whole matter is that God is pro-choice, not just on this matter, but on all things. That’s why He gave us free will. We can choose Him or not. We can choose life or death.
There is no neutral ground.
(References: Bible Gateway, Strong’s Concordance, Online Etymology Dictionary)
Thank you Juliette for this much needed writing. It is so clear and concise.
Thank you. Excellent post. I was especially intrigued by the etymology of matrix.