Whew, does it stink. Not all trash stinks, but in general it is what is rotten, good for nothing, and fit for the landfill. This may sound weird, but I have such a high regard for the “trash men” in our town. Why? Because it is an AWFUL job that they do. They ride on the back of the garbage truck, go from house to house, take a large step down from the truck, walk over get the trash cart and bags if there are some, and wheel it over to the back of the truck, connect it, dump it, then walk it back to where it was, and big step back on the truck. Next they ride the truck 25-50 feet to the next house and repeat. In the winter it can be bitterly cold and it the summer VERY hot. And then there is rain and snow. There are no convenient bathrooms or water coolers. It is amazing anyone does this work. That is why I am so grateful for them and endeavor to express it.

Have you noticed the similarities between stinking, rotten, trash and our sin? For proper health and well-being, both need to be removed. If left, both contaminate what is good. I’m grateful for our local trash crew, but I’m eternally grateful for Jesus Christ the One Who lived a sinless life so He could die a horrible death to carry my sin and die the death I deserve. 

“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth” (Isaiah 53:4-7)