Lord, Is That You?
The other day, I mentioned I was watching old Looney Tunes cartoons. Well, the very next day, another Looney Tunes video popped up in our feed, and this time it was Jason who indulged in some animated nostalgia. While I busied myself in our kitchen, the sound of his hearty laughter echoed from our bedroom.
At one point, I paused my dinner preparations, tilting my head to identify which character was speaking. Was that Foghorn Leghorn's boisterous southern drawl or Yosemite Sam's gruff, fiery outbursts? The more I listened, the more perplexed I became. Could it be the same voice actor behind both iconic characters? (As I later discovered, indeed it was, as the talented Mel Blanc voiced them both!)
What struck me as peculiar was how I'd never noticed the similarity before. When I could see the characters on screen (one a tall, pompous rooster strutting about the barnyard, the other a tiny, red-mustachioed cowboy with a hair-trigger temper), their voices seemed distinctly different. But with only audio to go by, the lines blurred, and I struggled to discern between them.
This little cartoon conundrum reminded me of something far more profound. In John 10:27, Jesus tells us, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." What a beautiful promise! Yet how often do I find myself straining to hear that voice clearly?
When I'm walking closely with the Lord by spending time in His Word daily, maintaining an active prayer life, and fellowshipping with other believers, His voice rings out distinct and clear. I recognize His guidance, His warnings, and His comfort. But when I drift away, distracted by the busyness of ministry or the demands of daily life, other voices begin to sound eerily similar to His.
The enemy is clever that way. He doesn't always speak in obviously demonic tones. Sometimes he mimics truth just enough to sound legitimate when we're not looking directly at the source. The voice of culture, of our own desires, even well-meaning advice from others can all masquerade as divine direction when we're not intimately familiar with the genuine article.
That's why regular time with the Lord isn't a luxury. It's a necessity! Just as I could easily distinguish between cartoon characters when I could see them, I can more readily recognize God's voice when I'm keeping my eyes fixed on Him.
Perhaps you've experienced something similar? Maybe you've found yourself uncertain whether a thought or idea is truly from God or from another source. If so, I encourage you to draw near to Him. Immerse yourself in Scripture. Spend time in His presence. The more familiar you become with His character, the more unmistakable His voice will be, even in a noisy world full of impersonators.