Halo’s move from utilizing their own propriety “Slipspace” technology to announcing they will build all future Halo content using the “Unreal” game engine is a pretty significant decision… the studio has finally accepted the limitations of their own software design and are choosing to use a proven, superior engine going forward. While this was a humbling and costly decision to make, they can’t build the future Halo experiences we all want on an old, flawed, or insufficient foundation. The only way to deliver a new Halo title that is worthy of the name is to change the way they create the game starting from the ground up.

The choice to follow the Lord in our lives must also be accompanied by our willingness to fully submit to His “game engine” in every decision we make if we want to enjoy the blessings and benefits He has promised us. He isn’t an “add-on” or supplemental DLC that we download into our daily routine… the mission of His Spirit is to rebuild our entire way of thinking from scratch on HIS foundation. Trying to simply add His wisdom to our old way of doing things in an attempt to have the best of both worlds will only end in frustration… His promises are real and will always come true, but He can’t bless what He didn’t build. Let’s construct our lives on His foundation and design so we can enjoy His blessings today.

Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. Psalm 127:1

Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall. Matthew 7:24-27

According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:10-11

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Playing through the original Halo trilogy back when the games first launched vs. replaying them now is a VASTLY different experience. In my first playthrough, this seemingly basic “space marine saves the world” story quickly gave way to some surprising (and occasionally unwelcome) twists and turns. From exposing the hidden purpose of the iconic Halo rings, to the betrayal of 343 Guilty Spark, to former enemy the Arbiter evolving from a lethal adversary to a valuable and critical ally, each chapter wouldn’t have made much sense if played without the added context of the others. But after the trilogy was complete, even the cliffhangers I didn’t appreciate the first time I played them finally made sense… they were serving a larger story.

The story that the Lord is telling through our lives will often feel like chaotically disparate chapters when viewed from our limited perspective, and they aren’t always easy to appreciate while we are living through them. But each event is a very intentional page He has written in our book that won’t necessarily make sense to us until the final sentence is written in both our narrative and the connected stories that are being told in the lives of others. In His perfect time, His purpose for the cliffhangers and betrayals we’re enduring will be fully revealed… and then we’ll finally understand.

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 1 Corinthians 13:12

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Halo Reach, Bungie’s final “swan song” in the Halo universe, was a prequel that set up the entire Halo conflict through the eyes of a brave fireteam of Spartans named “Noble Team”. As each member of the squad lived up to their name and paid the ultimate price in service of their mission, it slowly became clear that none of us were going to survive the events of Reach… but we WERE going to shape the future. As the game built to its powerful, inevitable crescendo, the pain in our journey all finally made sense… our sacrifice preserved the life of the one and only Master Chief, the Spartan who would go on to finish this fight one day. We didn’t win this battle, but our faithful obedience won the war. 

Our struggles in life serve eternal purposes that aren’t always going to be immediately obvious to us while we’re going through them, and many will not reveal their full impact until after our time on this planet has reached its’ conclusion. But if we will obediently yield our lives to the unique challenges our Master has called us to, we’ll find the meaning behind our mission. We are each one part of a sacrificial relay race, carrying the baton as far as we can during our leg of the race before passing it on to the next teammate until the circle is complete… and reaching tomorrow’s souls is paved through the sacrifices of today.

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 1 Corinthians 9:24-26

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. 2 Timothy 4:7-8

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