Garbage Can Christians
Title: Garbage Can Christians
Subject: Purity
Garbage Can Christians
Darwin's Theory,
We have an ongoing challenge around our yard: keeping the outside garbage can from stinking. Every once in awhile we have to wash it out. The garbage can smell doesn't bother me much because garbage is supposed to smell bad. After all, why do you think they put a lid on the can?
The truth is that sin stinks. A stinking non-christian is normal who is born with a sinful nature (John 3:7) and walks in the flesh (Romans 8:5). However, a stinking Christian is a whole different issue (Galatians 5:16).
Robert Munger in his book, My Heart, Christ Home, tells about the hall closet from which a horrible smell was coming. Munger, as a Christian, had left sins from his former life. These were little things he did not want to give up to the Lord. Remember, it's the little foxes that spoil the vine (Song of Solomon 2:15) and things were beginning to spoil in his life. Have you been there? The closet needed cleaning out. Munger writes, "Reluctantly, I went up with Him, and as we mounted the stairs the odor became stronger and stronger.
He pointed to the door. I was angry. That's the only way I can put it. I had given Him access to the library, the dining room, the living room, the workroom, and now He was asking me about a little two-by-four closet. I said to myself, ''This is too much. I am not going to give Him the key.''"
It is a serious mistake to try to run or hide from God. It causes spiritual and physical illness. King David says, "When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away Through my groaning all day long. For day and night Thy hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer." (Psalm 32:3-4)
Jesus will clean out our closet, but it takes an act of our will to turn over the key. Slowly Munger does this: "When one comes to know and love Christ, the worst thing that can happen is to sense Him withdrawing His fellowship. I had to give in. ''I'll give you the key,'' I said sadly, ''but You will have to open the closet and clean it out. I haven't got the strength to do it.'' ''Just give me the key,'' He said.''"
Will you give Him the key to your closet? King David said, "I acknowledged my sin to Thee, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, ''I will confess my transgressions to the LORD''; And Thou didst forgive the guilt of my sin.''" (Psalm 32:5)
A Christian isn't meant to smell like a garbage can. Turn over the key to your closet today and start smelling like the aroma of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:15).
Darwin's Theory,
We have an ongoing challenge around our yard: keeping the outside garbage can from stinking. Every once in awhile we have to wash it out. The garbage can smell doesn't bother me much because garbage is supposed to smell bad. After all, why do you think they put a lid on the can?
The truth is that sin stinks. A stinking non-christian is normal who is born with a sinful nature (John 3:7) and walks in the flesh (Romans 8:5). However, a stinking Christian is a whole different issue (Galatians 5:16).
Robert Munger in his book, My Heart, Christ Home, tells about the hall closet from which a horrible smell was coming. Munger, as a Christian, had left sins from his former life. These were little things he did not want to give up to the Lord. Remember, it's the little foxes that spoil the vine (Song of Solomon 2:15) and things were beginning to spoil in his life. Have you been there? The closet needed cleaning out. Munger writes, "Reluctantly, I went up with Him, and as we mounted the stairs the odor became stronger and stronger.
He pointed to the door. I was angry. That's the only way I can put it. I had given Him access to the library, the dining room, the living room, the workroom, and now He was asking me about a little two-by-four closet. I said to myself, ''This is too much. I am not going to give Him the key.''"
It is a serious mistake to try to run or hide from God. It causes spiritual and physical illness. King David says, "When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away Through my groaning all day long. For day and night Thy hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer." (Psalm 32:3-4)
Jesus will clean out our closet, but it takes an act of our will to turn over the key. Slowly Munger does this: "When one comes to know and love Christ, the worst thing that can happen is to sense Him withdrawing His fellowship. I had to give in. ''I'll give you the key,'' I said sadly, ''but You will have to open the closet and clean it out. I haven't got the strength to do it.'' ''Just give me the key,'' He said.''"
Will you give Him the key to your closet? King David said, "I acknowledged my sin to Thee, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, ''I will confess my transgressions to the LORD''; And Thou didst forgive the guilt of my sin.''" (Psalm 32:5)
A Christian isn't meant to smell like a garbage can. Turn over the key to your closet today and start smelling like the aroma of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:15).