Cut the Noise

Scripture

Hebrews 12:1 NLT

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

Hebrews 12:2 NLT

We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. …

Title: Cut the Noise

Intro

Something in engineering called signal to noise ratio (SNR)

Definition = measures the level of a desired signal (like music or data) against the level of unwanted background noise

If I have one of my children trying to tell me something

While another is playing a game w/o headphones

Another is watching a movie

Mom is cooking

The dog is barking

The child I’m trying to listen to (the signal) is crowded by the noise (everything else)

The more noise there is, the harder it is to distinguish the signal.

And I wonder if some of us have a spiritual signal-to-noise problem.

Jesus hasn’t stopped speaking. His truth hasn’t changed. His promises haven’t weakened. But our lives have gotten noisy.

Anxiety is making noise. Opinions are making noise. Comparison is making noise. Our schedules are making noise. Our phones are making noise. Our past is making noise. And yes—sin makes noise.

Hebrews calls these things weights.

And notice the distinction: “every weight…especially the sin…”

All weight isn’t sin, but all sin is weight.

Some things slowing you down aren't bad things. They’re just taking up too much space.

Your job isn't sinful. Parenting isn't sinful. Hobbies aren't sinful. Social media isn't inherently sinful. But anything can become noise when it consistently competes with the voice and priority of Christ.

So maybe the question isn't simply, “Is this wrong?”

Maybe the better question is:

“Is this helping me hear the signal?”

Hebrews tells us to strip off the weight and fix our eyes on Jesus.

In other words:

Maximize the signal. Minimize the noise.

Focus on Christ. Cut the noise.

Engineers have developed several ways to pull a clean signal out of noisy environments. And interestingly, every one of them gives us a picture of what Hebrews tells us to do spiritually.

Transition

And the first thing you have to do with a noisy signal is decide what needs to be filtered out.

Because you can't hear clearly when you're giving everything equal access.

Some things aren't necessarily wrong—they just don't belong in the signal.

If we're going to cut the noise, we have to learn to filter what gets in.

Apply a Spiritual Filter

In engineering a low pass filter blocks high-frequency chaos while letting the smooth, foundational wave pass through.

Engineers filter the unwanted frequencies because they interfere with the signal they're trying to receive.

Spiritually, some of us are allowing everything in and then wondering why we can't hear clearly.

Every opinion gets in.

Every notification gets in.

Every controversy gets in.

Every fear gets in.

Every piece of bad news gets in.

Then we wonder why there's no peace.

Everything that wants your attention doesn't deserve your attention.

Proverbs 4:23 NLT

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

You can't control every sound around you, but you can control what gets access to you

Maybe cutting the noise means turning off notifications.

Maybe it means changing what you watch.

Maybe it means stepping away from an argument.

Maybe it means you don't need another hour of commentary about something you cannot control.

Some of us don't need God to speak louder. We need life to get quieter.

Transition

But here's the problem: filtering the noise only works if you know what you're trying to hear.

Because you can shut out a lot of voices and still listen to the wrong one.

So engineers don't just filter out unwanted frequencies. They establish a reference that tells them which signal they're actually looking for.

It's not enough to know what to tune out. You have to know what you're tuned into.

Lock into the Reference

Second, engineers use a tool called a lock-in amplifier.

A lock-in amplifier knows what signal it's looking for. Because it has a reference, it can reject what doesn't match.

If you don't have a reference for truth, every voice sounds equally valid.

What is our reference frequency? Jesus Christ.

Aligning your mind with Scripture daily establishes your reference.

When the world throws gossip, fear, or lies at you, you don't have to argue with it.

You just hold it up to the truth of Christ. If it doesn't match His frequency, your soul automatically rejects it signal.

Before you believe the thought, check it against the reference.

Colossians 2:6–8 NLT

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.

If it contradicts Christ, it doesn't matter how convincing it sounds—it’s noise.

“I'm never going to get through this.”

Does that match the reference?

“God has forgotten about me.”

Does that match the reference?

“My past disqualifies me.”

Does that match the reference?

“Everybody else's life is better than mine.”

Does that match the reference?

Stop letting noise define reality. Check it against the reference.

Transition

But knowing the reference doesn't mean the noise disappears.

Tomorrow, anxiety may come back.

Tomorrow, comparison may start talking again.

Tomorrow, that same lie may try to get your attention again.

That's why following Jesus isn't something we reference occasionally. It's Someone we return to consistently.

Because the more consistently you expose yourself to the signal, the easier it becomes to recognize the noise.

Engineers have a principle for this too.

Strengthen the Signal Through Repetition

Third, there is a method called signal averaging. Engineers will take measurements over and over again.

Because noise is completely random, it eventually cancels itself out over time, while the true, consistent signal gets stronger and stronger.

One bad day doesn't define your faith.

One anxious morning doesn't define your future.

One difficult week doesn't erase what God has been building in you.

The signal gets clearer through consistent exposure to the truth.

The remedy is consistency.

Consistency makes the signal stronger than the moment.

Your daily habits—showing up in prayer, reading the Word, gathering with community—act as signal averaging.

One bad day won't ruin the frequency of a signal. Over time, your consistent devotion cancels out the temporary anxieties, leaving behind a powerful, unbreakable trajectory of faith.

Don't let one noisy day redefine what God has been saying for years.

Some of us are allowing something that happened this week to make us question what God has been showing us for years.

You had one bad week and suddenly God isn't faithful?

You had one setback and suddenly God doesn't have a plan?

You made one mistake and suddenly His grace isn't enough?

Don't let temporary noise make you question a consistent signal.

Because He's been saying...

I love you for years

I’m faithful for years

My grace is sufficient for years!

Aim Your Antenna

Illustration as a kid getting a good signal. > actually pointing it closer to the real signal = called spatial separation

If you want a clear picture on a TV or radio, you don’t point the antenna at the whole sky—you point a directional antenna straight at the transmitter.

When you do that, the noise coming from the sides and behind is completely ignored.

This is exactly what Hebrews 12:2 says right after telling us to drop the weights: 'looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.'

Hebrews 12:2 NLT

We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

Stop aiming left at comparison.

Stop aiming right at everybody else's opinions.

Stop aiming backward at your failures.

Stop aiming inward at your inadequacy.

Aim your attention at Jesus.

Aim your attention squarely at the cross.

When your eyes are fixed entirely on Jesus, the distractions on your periphery naturally lose their power and fade away.

You cannot run your race while constantly watching somebody else's lane.

Closing

Hebrews doesn't tell us to learn how to run carrying all the weight.

It says lay it aside.

Some of us have gotten really good at carrying things Jesus never asked us to carry.

Carrying everybody's opinions.

Carrying yesterday's mistakes.

Carrying tomorrow's worries.

Carrying expectations.

Carrying comparison.

Carrying distractions.

Carrying sin.

And we're asking God to help us run faster.

Maybe His answer isn't, “Run faster.”

Maybe His answer is, “Drop the weight.”

Cut the noise.

Because there is still a race God has set before you.

And you cannot run your race effectively while giving your attention to everything around you.

So filter what gets in.

Check everything against the reference.

Consistently return to the truth.

And aim your attention at Jesus.

Because the goal was never simply to have less noise.

The goal is to hear the signal clearly.

And the signal is Christ.

His truth over the lies.

His peace over the anxiety.

His purpose over the distractions.

His grace over your past.

His voice over every other voice.

You don't need every voice to get quieter before you can focus. You need the voice of Jesus to matter more than every other voice.

Focus on Christ.

Cut the noise.