Don't Settle for a Sound Machine Savior

Deuteronomy 4:29 “But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

Recently I went to the doctor’s office for a checkup. When I entered the room, I sat on the bed causing the sheet of paper that runs down the middle to crinkle and wrinkle underneath my weight; same as always. It didn’t take long for me to notice something different though, an addition to the room that had never been there before. It sounded like water rushing and crashing and I swear I heard a sea gull. I thought I had either lost my mind or I was having some serious beach withdrawals.  After some investigating I located a sound machine on the other side of the room that was producing artificial beach noises. I wasn’t crazy, this time.

It just so happened that my husband was taking me to the beach that following weekend, so I sat there and listened to the repetitive sea gull call and prepared myself for the amazing vacation to come!

We arrived at the beach condo a couple of days later and I couldn’t wait to step out on to the sand. We unpacked the car, changed into our beach clothes, grabbed our chairs and umbrella and stepped out into the salty sea air. Chris and I trekked through the sand until we found the perfect spot. Our view of the ocean churning up the sand and mixing it with salt and shells was unobstructed and perfect.

Placing our chairs just right, we sat down, stuck our toes in the sand and leaned back. The warmth of the sun permeated our skin and sent a tingle down our bodies while a light breeze kept us cool. As I drifted into a semiconscious state, I listened to the waves crashing into the water below mixed with a faint sea gull call. My nose was filled the scents of coconut suntan lotion, salty air and sea grass dunes. I was completely relaxed.

Then, the thought hit me. 

“THIS IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN THE SOUND MACHINE AT THE DOCTOR’S OFFICE!!!!”

The noise I was hearing in the doctor’s office was nice, but how sad would it be if that’s the only experience of the beach that I had?? There is so much more to experience than a few repetitive noises.

I couldn’t help but relate this to our walk with Christ. We can easily sit and be passive Christians, listening to the same pretty sermons and songs and praying the same prayers over and over again. It’s nice, comforting and easy. We would still be saved and going to heaven (if we have asked Jesus to be our savior) but we would be missing out on so much more. The Bible is full of warnings about being stiff and dull Christians.

Revelation 3:16 “So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”

Exodus 34:8-9 Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped. “Lord,” he said, “if I have found favor in your eyes, then let the Lord go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our wickedness and our sin, and take us as your inheritance.”

We would miss out on basking in the warmth of his grace and presence and have it send tingles down our bodies.  We would miss out on seeing with our own eyes miracles and wonders. We would miss out on the abounding blessings God has for us. We would just be sitting in a room full of other sick and wanting people, doing the same things over and over and needing a different result. We have to just push through the mediocrity of modern day Christianity and reach out to God, for him to take our hand and lead us.  

Jeremiah 33:3 Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

It brings tears to my eyes when I think of all the people who don’t experience the fullness of God and his power. Those who haven’t heard his voice guiding them, simply because they haven’t asked.

Don’t settle for a sound machine savior. Step out into the permeating presence of God. 

 God want us to experience him, not just view him from a comfortable distance.