Lullaby Of Life

Your alarm goes off and you roll over and hit snooze.  Your alarm goes off again and you do the same thing.  As your alarm sounds for the third time you decide at that moment that it may be time to lift your heavy head, drop your feet to the floor and make your way to the shower.  By the time the warm water nearly puts you to sleep yet again, you realize that if you keep on at this pace you will most definitely be late for work.  So…you rush this process, you arrive at work on time (by the grace of God) and you begin your day. 

Somewhere between that whole ordeal and laying your head down on your ever so inviting pillow at night at the end of a long day, I am fully convinced as a Christian, there is a mysterious melody that plays on a 24/7 loop called the “Lullaby of Life.”  I don’t really know if we even have the ability to hear this song unless it’s disguised as that dreaded alarm clock in the morning, an angry manager or complaining coworker during the day, the sound of traffic as you drive home in the evening, or the dull moan of the television as you sit down after dinner to unwind at night. 

What happens in this song?  What are the lyrics?  Who wrote it?  But most importantly… How in the world is this song SO powerful that it continues to lull Christians to sleep generation after generation causing them to compromise their convictions, justify their behaviour, and become content and comfortable with where they stand in life?

Life’s dramas and distractions play a vital role in such a song.  We get so hung up on such petty things that crave our full attention throughout a day and subtly beg us to kick back and relax.  Before we know it, our minds drift away from the very substance of life and purpose is ever waning.  Each poisonous note that is played through this lullaby slowly ushers in a cloud overhead that can cause us to become somewhat dull and numb to all things Godly.  Who wants this way of life?  Nobody.  Who asked for this to be played?  No one.    

This devious melody is unstoppable.  It starts when you wake up, it plays throughout the day and I’m guessing it ends when you fall asleep.  It’s the very breath of the enemy; it’s his song to us in hopes that we may become distracted, unmotivated, careless and worst of all…stagnant.  Although this is the case, as Christians we must not forget that we have a choice to listen.   How have we for so many years allowed the busyness of everyday life to stifle the passion, the fire, and the zeal that is required to truly live as a Christian?  It’s imperative we remember that God has given us everything in order to fight such daily battles. 

Oswald Chambers in his book “My Utmost For His Highest” said, “What hinders me from hearing is that I am taking up with other things.  It’s not that I will not hear God, but I am not devoted in the right place.”  Where does your devotion lie?  As Christians we must put first things first and fight against the temptation to reprioritize according to our own comfort and deny God one thing that He is most worthy of…complete reign in our lives.  Our destinies are on the line, which is why we need to stay on guard and alert.  We cannot afford to be lulled to sleep by this lullaby of life and pass up countless opportunities to advance the kingdom, however that may look. Wake up ready for war, but don’t forget to have fun as you write your own song each God-given day!