NFL Stadiums now compete to be the loudest, which handicaps the opposing team’s offense. The current record holder is Kansas City.
“Kansas City Chiefs fans’ broke Seattle Seahawks’ fans’ record of having the loudest outdoor stadium by creating 142.2 decibels worth of noise at Arrowhead Stadium Monday night [September 29, 2014].
‘The Chiefs tweeted a celebratory infographic declaring Arrowhead the loudest stadium in the world.”
Claim to fame! Wowzer.
Shout Louder!
Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to show their god would answer their call. When their god hadn’t responded, Elijah told them to call out with a loud voice (1 Kings 18:27). Shout louder! But “no one answered, and no one paid attention.” (1 Kings 18:29).
The prophets of Baal were loudest, but only Elijah’s prayer was answered (by the LORD).
Gentle Whisper
Elijah soon after sought the Lord, who answered, not in a great and strong wind, not in an earthquake, not in a fire, but in a gentle blowing, a gentle whisper. (1 Kings 19:12)
Pilate’s Noise Problem
When Jesus was brought before Pilate, Pilate actually tried to release him. Three times Pilate said Jesus was not guilty. Pilate sent Jesus to Herod. Pilate tried to release him according to custom at the feast.
But the crowd “kept on calling out, saying, “Crucify, crucify Him!” (Luke 23:21)
They were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail. (Luke 23:23)
The crowd kept on. Their repetition, their unrelenting loud insistence, overwhelmed Pilate.
Our Noise Problem
The world is LOUD!
The world demands our attention. Louder and LOUDER. Unrelenting. More insistent.
The world’s noise often threatens to distract us from our purpose. We probably cannot control the noise, but we can control whether and how we listen to the world. We can deliberate seek to hear the Lord, knowing He might speak to us in a gentle whisper.
Pilate initially resisted the loud voices. But over time, with their insistent repetition, the loud voices began to prevail.
Is there any counterpoint in your life? In mine?
You and I have distractions. We have demands on our time, resources, and energy. Some of these are healthy and we need to pay attention. Others divert us from our purpose and can take us down some dark paths.
Over time, if we don’t take steps, unhealthy demands begin to prevail.
Remember, sometimes God is only heard in the gentle whisper. (1 Kings 19:12)
Don’t let LOUD drown out the Lord.
What to do:
Be alert to whether the noise leads you towards—or away—from God.
If the noise threatens to take you from the Lord:
Don’t listen.
Get away.
Find some quiet space, some quiet time, to get yourself settled down.
Change your friends, or your routine, or maybe even your job.
Deliberately (often requiring great effort) turn your attention elsewhere.
Intentionally seek to hear God.
Don’t let LOUD drown out the Lord.
