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Nate Morgan Locke, Christianity Explored's Youth Evangelist, on why he's not sleeping these days
Italia '90 will be remembered by many people for many different reasons: England’s semi-final shootout with Germany; Roger Milla’s goal celebrations and, of course, Gazza’s tears.
But for me the most memorable thing was Luciano Pavorotti singing an aria from Giacomo Puccini’s opera Turandot: Nessun Dorma.
I was 7 years old at the time and a huge fan of Gary Lineker. I just wanted to play football. I was also obsessed by this song and although I had no idea what the bearded Italian was getting so excited about, I listened to it over and over again.
The copy I had was on a cassette that featured various tenors singing different pieces. I’d tried listening to some of the others but none were as appealing as Nessun Dorma. Recently I was reminded of the song again and thought I should take the time to work out what he was on about, so here goes.
Nessun Dorma is Latin for “None shall sleep”, and it was a phrase shouted by Turandot, a beautiful yet evil Princess. She delights in setting riddles for prospective husbands and beheading those who fail, until one man, Calaf, comes and solves them all.
Outraged, she begs not to marry him but is bound by oath. So Calaf sets her a task that should she complete he would die, but should she fail she would marry him: she must discover his name before daybreak.
She sends out her heralds to proclaim that none shall sleep until his name is discovered. Calaf sings to himself that, indeed, none shall sleep, even the princess. As day dawns his name is not discovered and she, now softened in her emotions, becomes his bride.
Well, if you understood all that at the first reading you’re doing very well!
Salvation of the believer
I have been turning over the phrase “none shall sleep” in my mind for a couple of weeks now, in particular because I believe that it, in some way, describes the vision of God in the salvation of the believer.
There is a very real sense in which God has determined that He shall not rest until He has brought sinners back to Himself, and there are many passages of the Bible in which this commitment to unrelenting pursuance is displayed. See John 5:17; Luke 15:4,8,20; Psalm 121.
It can be so easy to forget that the work of evangelism is God’s work and that in His love He chooses to use us in bringing about His purposes.
And if He is always working to gather in His loved ones, then we too, as His people, must endeavour to work hard for His kingdom.
Now, where’s that tape?
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