Novocaine (The Eyes of Alice Cooper, 2003)

This week is the second part of a three-part post. Last week’s post was about the song ‘Pain‘ (be sure to check that one out if you haven’t already). This week we look at the song ‘Novocaine‘ from the album, ‘The Eyes of Alice Cooper‘. Another modern-day throwback to the original Alice Cooper band, this song has a definite ’70s vibe in both ambiance and production level – it’s the ‘most natural song on the album’ according to Alice. It seems this song refers to the brunt of life so to speak. When some things just continue to eat away at you long enough that you lose all feeling and/or emotion. That gnawing, raw feeling that leads to numbness. Leaving you to the point where you’d like to ‘feel once again’.

With ‘Novocaine’, we find ourselves back in the narrative of life as three parts in a play. Those parts being Fall, Redemption, and Restoration. After experiencing the Fall, or the ‘Pain’ of sin, humanity finds itself at a crossroads. No clear path to Restoration. No hope so to speak. Enter Christ, the Lamb of God who was slain for humanity’s transgressions (Revelation 12:11). His blood washed away the stains of the Fall. Offering Redemption and paving the way for Restoration. However, this is where things get a little tricky. While the sacrifice was freely given and for all (John 3:16-17), it must be accepted (Romans 10:9-10). Thus, we are left with a choice: Rejection or Redemption. A choice we must make.

This choice ultimately defines our eternal destination. But it also affects our life here on earth as well (Romans 8:26). Humanity knows and feels the consequences of the Fall. It’s left us empty and separated from our Creator (1 John 2:15-17). In turn, we are all searching for something. Something to fulfill the disconnection. Something to take that sting out of this aberrant life. Some try filling it with material positions. Cars. Homes. Toys. Shopping. Some try using others. Relationships. Sex. Friendships. Family. Some try using substances. Drugs. Alcohol. Food. You get the point. While some of these things provide a small, fleeting amount of fulfillment. None of them cure the everlasting desires of our heart. The desire to be connected to our Creator (John 4:13-14).

So, I bet you’re wondering – how does this all relate to ‘Novocaine’? Good question. There’s a certain amount of numbness that comes with either decision – whether one decides to walk with Him or walk away from Him. There’s this instinctive mechanism that forces us to deal with the ‘Pain’ on some level or another. Both believer and non-believer. So, what’s the difference between the two? The difference is Christ. Christ becomes the eternal connection to the Author of Life. Those things that we used to try and plug into that ‘God-shaped’ hole now have little to no value. They simply become irrelevant, or at least less relevant, after He becomes our life’s focus – after His Holy Spirit dwells within us (John 6:35). But that still doesn’t make sense. How can numbness come from either path? With Christ, grace becomes the Novocaine. His grace erases the sting of sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:55-57). It may not happen overnight. But when you begin walking with our Lord, His righteousness becomes yours. You become clean through Him. Washing away the guilt, shame, and pain of a life lived without Him. His Word and the walk with Him fulfill that void. It’s not a perfect life or completely annulled of pain and sorrow but it’s a content life, in spite of the hardships. One filled with His strength (Philippians 4:11-13, 2 Corinthians 12:10).

Let’s take this one step further with a couple scenarios. Let’s look at life through the scope of two fictional characters, brothers if you will. One named Steven. The other named Frank. Steven and Frank both live painful lives – nightmares so to speak. They’ve seen every sort of horror this life has to offer – and shared those experiences together. As they grow older, they look back upon their pasts (and the events that transpired). Wanting to forget and move forward, they begin finding ways to numb the pain.

Steven decides the best way to move forward is by not focusing on the past. Instead trying to erase it. Moving forward at an enormous speed. Through a wealthy career – working 60+ hours a week – spending time with different women every weekend – a line of cocaine here or there – etc, etc. His life has become completely numb. While he remembers the pain (and the torment of his past is still there), he’s tried to bury it all. He’s accomplished his goal. He can’t feel it. In the process of concealing it, he’s become a disheartened husk of a person – unable to cope and/or function as a loving human being because of the ‘Novocaine’ of this world. At his crossroad in life, he wants nothing more than to feel something. He knows ‘something’s wrong’ and is willing to ‘take anything’.

Frank decides he’s going to face his past head on. He searches for some sort of meaning in his life. He wants to deal with his pain (finding some way to numb and escape it), but he doesn’t want to lose sight of life. He wants a family, he wants friends, he wants to love. He, too, remembers his pain but is willing to face it. He’s damaged goods – but has hope things can be better. After much soul searching, he finds his way to another form of ‘Novocaine’ – a Bible and a group of loving, caring people that have no bias towards him or his past. His path allows him to cope. In turn, allowing him to love on a much deeper level. At his crossroad in life, his pain has been subdued but without losing himself or his ability to feel.

Who chose a better way to deal with the pain? Who do you think will live a happier life here on earth? Who do you think may not be so happy in eternity? The good news is both Steven and Frank, while living, both have a chance at Redemption. No matter the pain or how it’s been dealt with, there’s no need to accept Rejection instead of Redemption. Christ’s hand is always outstretched – waiting to take hold of yours. Ready to lift you up and start walking towards that path of Restoration.

Depending on your life’s story, there may be a good bit of exaggeration in the stories of Steven and Frank – then again, maybe not. Each person’s life is their own and their experiences are unique, yet many have walked through the same scenarios. Each chooses to handle those scenarios differently. It’s important to know the difference between the two reasonings. The ways of the world may successfully strip away the pain but at a cost. Is it worth stripping away all feeling, all meaning, etc. to bury your agony? No matter what your form of ‘Novocaine’ is, His is better. It’s not something that is easily explained until you’ve felt it or experienced it. But the numbness His way provides NOT ONLY strips away and/or lessens the pain of this world but instead assigns something new. Something filled with faith, hope, love, peace, and joy. The very definition of Redemption.

In conclusion, you have a choice to make in this life. Will you accept the redemption offered us through the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, or will you eternally reject that offer? It’s the burning question posed to humanity. Stop and take some time to evaluate your life. Where are you? Have you buried the pain and numbed all thoughts, judgments, and emotions? Suppressing them in some dark place where no one else can find them. All mankind knows ‘there’s something wrong’. Something that needs to be fixed. There’s always this notion for one to look up for relief when there’s trouble. To our parents. To our communities. To the government. Keep going – look a little further. We’re trying to find justice and righteousness in places that can’t truly and honestly provide those things. They come from Him. The very things we hold dear in this life are found walking with Him. Psalms 89:14 reads, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.” Allow Him to become those things that you haven’t found in this earthly life. Allow Him to become your Redemption. The ‘Novocaine’ that numbs only the pain and darkness while filling you instead with His Light and Love.

Tune in next week for the last part of these posts. Restoration is the final phase of humanity’s story.