Are You Living The Anaesthetised Life?
What is the anaesthetised life? I’m sure that many of us have been administered anaesthesia at some point in our lives. Recently I had a mole removed, and the doctor injected the excision site with a “local” anaesthetic. I didn’t feel anything other some gentle stretching and scratching.
If you have a bigger operation, you may be administered a “general” anaesthetic. It might be interesting for you to learn that general anaesthetic is really like being in a coma, except it is a reversible coma. You may even require support breathing when under a “general” anaesthetic. If it all goes well, you don’t remember a thing. It’s like being asleep.
Most of us spend a large part of our time allowing our society to anaesthetise us. Really! Just stop and think about it for a moment. How long do you spend on social media? Playing mindless games on your digital device? Watching entertainment? Need I go on?
For brief periods of time, we break free and spend meaningful time with those we love, or even trying to find God in our spiritual lives. But too soon the dark forces lure us back into the anaesthetised life again. And the enemy steals your joy, kills your dreams, and destroys your soul.
The apostle Paul, urges us to:
“Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is (Eph. 5:14–17; See also Rom. 13:11–12).
You might be tempted to think that this is referring to non-Christians, but that’s not the case at all. In fact, Jesus says to the church at Sardis:
…I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die… (Rev. 3:1–2).
The anaesthetised life is not the life that Christ offers you!
Right now, you are alive. In terms of this world, that won’t be the case for long. During the medieval period, it was common for art works and architecture to include reminders of our mortality (“memento mori”.) While perhaps a little morbid, it was an attempt to encourage people to put their lives into perspective.
Today, more than ever, we need to put our lives into an eternal perspective. The things that the world puts into our lives to soak up our time are there to make us avoid and to forget the important issues of existence.
Jesus has a much better way. He said to his disciples,
I am the way and the truth and the life (John 14:6).
Living in Jesus is the ultimately the only way to live. When we live in relationship with Jesus, we live in truth. This means that we live real lives, not in the false reality of the world, but in the ultimate truth of God. This truth means that we know that we are accepted, loved and saved, and this brings with it purpose, happiness and peace. Finally, Jesus is the life. Apart from him, everything else will end in death. Jesus is not only the life, but Jesus is also your life. Christ is your very breath, your all-in-all, not just now, but forever.
God has genuine life for you to enjoy right now. It isn’t an anaesthetised, fake life, but the real deal. That’s why Jesus said,
The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life (John 10:10).
A rich and satisfying life doesn’t come through Instagram. It comes through knowing Jesus. It comes by accepting his life, that he offers you through his death and resurrection.
The anaesthetised life is not the life that Christ offers you! What God offers you is the truest life of all!
Article supplied with thanks to Dr Eliezer Gonzalez.
About the Author: Dr Eli Gonzalez is the Senior Pastor of Good News Unlimited and the presenter of the Unlimited radio spots, and The Big Question. Sign up to his free online course called Becoming a Follower of Jesus to learn about Jesus and His message.
Feature image: Photo by Daria Nepriakhina on Unsplash
