I recently watched The Truman Show, one of those movies I tend to watch at every other year. Most of you may have seen it before, but if you haven’t it’s worth a watch, especially with a little biblical application.

     Truman, played by Jim Carrey, lives out his normal daily routine until an unexpected visit from his father, whom he thought drowned during a storm years ago on their sailing trip.  Upon recognizing his dad, random standbys’ quickly usher his dad away without a rhyme or reason.  This also triggered a memory of a girl he fell in love with during his high school years, she was eventually ushered away to prevent her from telling him a truth that has been kept from him.  Due to this very unusual experience Truman starts to observe his surroundings and the people he runs into realizing there’s a pattern, that there’s something more going on under the sun and starts questioning everything that he knows. 

Truman’s Truth

     We all want to know what’s authentic and true.  What’s really going on behind the scenes of this thing called life.  Before believing, accepting and asking for Jesus’s forgiveness, we are blind to the truth just as Truman is to what’s going on in his life, we are blind to the unseen world.

“For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”  Ephesians 6:12.

     Some may call it paranoia, strange, crazy or foolish to believe that heaven and hell are real, to believe there are unseen angels, and demons (fallen angels) that are working behind the scenes.  But this disbelief is to nonetheless to believe a lie as truth.

“But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit.  It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.” 1 Corinthians 2:14

    Though I was saved at a young age, I sense this type of gravitation to accept Jesus into my life, as if I knew something was going to be revealed, a truth that was kept hidden.  Due to the scriptures that I read of the causes/effects of sin vs righteousness, I began to dig deeper in my teen years, realizing there is indeed more going on under the seen than what we perceive.  I’ve struggled with the acceptance of what I believe being viewed as foolishness, but the fact is, such perception only come from those who don’t speak from experience. As certain things that have been hidden from Truman start to come to light, the more things that are hidden to human will be revealed as they continue to press on in the teachings, studies and communication with God.  By seeking God out on a daily basis, the more truth will be revealed.

“Then Jesus asked them, ‘Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed?  Of course not!  A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine.  For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light.  Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.’  Then he added, ‘Pay close attention to what you hear.  The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given and you will receive even more.  To those who listen to my teachings, more understanding will be given.  But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.’” Mark 4:21-25

Truman’s Deceiver

     The more and more Truman observed things, the more he understood he was being deceived, though he tried to confined in his supposedly close friend and wife, they themselves try to deceive him all the more, because they alone have been deceived.  Upon his investigations, he come to understand he is being watched everywhere he goes and realized that everything, in fact does revolve around him.  Though the way he lives his life is real, but everyone else pretends that they are living theirs.

     Shortly after his discovery, he secretly plans an escape by placing a frosty the snow man décor under his sheets with a recording of him snoring as he sneaks out to the so called sea and sets sail to freedom.  Of course that doesn’t come without a cost, he is tested in the waters as an artificial storm brews up and nearly takes his life like it was supposed to take his dads life. Finally, the storm comes to a halt as his sail eventually pierces through the side of the fake world he has been living in.

     This is when the voice of his deceiver, Christof played by Ed Harris, comes and tries to persuade Truman to stay, claiming that the world he has made for him is free from fear that he’ll have to face in the real world.  Christof’s reasons for the show is that people are tired of phony actors and want something real.  He urges Truman that he can’t leave because he has millions of fans that live their daily lives watching him live his, bringing them hope and joy.  Christof and his corporation had legally adopted Truman, who happened to be an unwanted birth, because he was born within the time frame that they needed him.

     Christof also had his own follower of deceivers, those who pretended to be living their real life around Truman.  They have been convinced by Christof that what they are doing was for the greater good, however it doesn’t seem any of them thought about the consequences that were at hand.

     Satan is our ultimate deceiver, he would like us to remain ignorant to the truth and live the rest of our lives under his control.  He wants to take the place of God in our lives and make us believe it’s for our best interest.  But that’s just it, you’ll be living a lie while under his control, he will make promises that he has no intentions on keeping unless it’s for his own benefit.  His plan is to make himself look as if he is alone glorious.

     “But I am not surprised!  Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.  So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness.  In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve.”  2 Corinthians 11:14-15

     There is a covering that hides us from the truth until we submit ourselves to God’s truth.  As we continue to dig deeper into God’s truth the more Satan’s strategies are revealed.  But our faith in God also requires action, not only to Love, which is greater than anything else, but to also forgive.  In this scenario, it would have been nice to see what happened afterwards, if Truman would have forgiven Christof, despite the lifelong deception, and sought out God’s will and love for others and made it his own desire to do the same.

      That can be a very tough thing to do, because denying yourself and taking up your cross daily is totally different than what you’ve may have been raised to believe.

     “When you forgive this man, I forgive him, too.  And when I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ’s authority for your benefit, so that Satan will not outsmart us.  For we are familiar with his evil schemes.” 2 Corinthians 2:10-11

Truman’s New Life

      While Christof was waiting for Truman’s response to his promises of more deception, Truman simply responded with his usual morning greeting to his neighbors, “Good morning, and in case I don’t see you, good afternoon, good evening and good night!”  He then takes a bow, and walks through the door, which awaiting for him happens to be the love of his life, as she was believing and praying that he would do exactly what he had just accomplished.  

      The movie ends there, there could have been more to gain insight from a second movie, maybe call it Trumans Displacement into Reality.  At least this is what a lot of Christians experience when changing their lifestyle over to Christ, a displacement, a since of now what?  Well to tell you the truth, God’s Word has so much more to offer than anyone can fully grasp in a lifetime.  It’s that powerful in revealing truth into our lives, that you’ll never hit a point where there is nothing else you can gain from knowing God at a deeper level and receiving wisdom.  

God sees everything 

    Just as Truman’s life was broadcasted to millions ever since he was a boy to a middle age man, in hindsight, God sees everything that we do, but unlike the cameras, He also knows our thoughts.  

   “For the word of God is alive and powerful.  It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow.  It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.  Nothing in all creation is hidden from God.  Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.”  Hebrews 4:12-13

I’m thankful we have a loving father we can talk to no matter where we are. No matter what day or time it is, He is there, a gentle

We all need to set time aside in self reflection and ask:

“Am I experiencing God’s truth in my life?”  

“Am I living by the standards of others or by Jesus?”

“Am I overcoming obstacles by applying God’s truth?”

“Am I acknowledging the reality that God knows all and sees all that I do?”

“What changes do I need to make?”  

“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32