Lose the Music!

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:

"An adversary shall be all around the land;

He shall sap your strength from you,

And your palaces shall be plundered."

Amos 3:1

Yesterday my dad showed my siblings and I the closing car race scene from a movie. He knew the boys would likely enjoy the high speed police pursuit as the flashy sports cars raced one another on the scenic road.

As I watched the cars race, wildly flip out of control, smash into each other and start on fire, I wasn't sure if I really liked this or not. You never actually saw anyone get injured (thankfully) but it was hard to imagine they hadn't (even though it was only pretend.) 

Finally our hero was the last car still racing, and as he sped down the long peninsula toward the lighthouse with the setting sun warming the ocean scene they start to play this music. This reflective, heroic song, with a touch of sadness. Yet it was hard to take this touching moment seriously when there were still 5 police cars and a helicopter in full pursuit behind him. The music continues as he crosses the finish line and as they get a close up of his reflective face you can hear a distant echoing voice telling him to get his hands up. After a long pause in the car he finally steps out with his hands in the air, the music still rising in emotion, as he turns around to face the fleet of officers who are holding him at gun point. Then we see him on the ground with half his face pressing into the gravel as a Highway patrolmen pins him there with his knee in his back. But still this music plays and there's a distant look in the drivers eyes as we hear the familiar clicking of handcuffs.

When the movie was over my dad asked me how I liked it. I laughingly said, "It must be a guy thing." 

After I left I kept laughing to myself over what I had seen. Who plays soft music to an arresting scene?

The music in movies and television shows tell you how you're suppose to feel. It can make you scared, prepare you to laugh, move you to tears, or inspire you to act. Movies and television shows wouldn't be the same without music. 

Have you ever noticed that the Bible does not have a movie score? The Bible is very factual. You can be reading a seemingly graphic scene and not even notice it happened until two verses later when it finally hits you that, oh my goodness, that man just lost his head! 

The Lord is very emotional, but He doesn't play the "feelings" game. He was moved with love for you to die on the cross, He can weep with deep felt sorrow over the hurting, and can sweat blood from such anguish, but He doesn't woo you into salvation with soft music and mushy feelings. He knows how hard this life will be so He gives you Himself, not a bunch of fleeting song stirred feelings, to carry you through.

Now the adversary the devil likes to play the "feelings" game. He snakes around with his ugly little radio and plays music for you. Just as movie scores tell you how you should feel, he's trying to tell you how you should feel. 

Have you ever had a time when you were just living along in enjoyment and contentment and then this songs starts to play. It's a real depressing song, it drips of self pity, and hopelessness. And if you believe it, "he saps you of your strength and your palace is soon plundered" because you choose to "feel" as the song was leading you instead of standing strong in the facts the Lord has given you. 

Now you don't have to "feel" what the music is telling you to feel. Yesterday when I watched that movie, I didn't feel what the music was telling me to feel. How could I get all emotional and touched by a man getting arrested?! The enemy's music is the same way, it's hilariously absurd! If you look at the scene of your life, the music he is trying to play doesn't fit! You don't have to be scared when he plays scary music! You don't have to be depressed, hopeless, angry, discontent, etc just because he says that's how you should feel. 

You have a choice. A choice to ignore that music and live your life for the truth of what it is. But you have to choose. The Lord isn't going to play radio wars with the enemy! If you listen to those songs you'll feel yourself grow weak and it will be harder to move in the direction of obedience. If you turn to Lord when the song first starts or even in the unfortunate event that you've let the song play for a while, you won't find the Lord playing you a song of motivation or mushy love. You'll find only the peacefulness of quiet as His strong hand picks you up and gives you the strength you need. 

So the next time that music begins to play in your life, just remember to laugh and lose the music!