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Commercials can be absolutely the most entertaining part of TV or they can be the most disgusting and vulgar. There is one little slice of life that I have seen recently about a boy and a garbage bag. His mother fills the bag in front of him, even to the point of pressing items inside the bag that stretch the sides rather alarmingly. The little boy is bug-eyed. Then dear sweet Mom tells the boy that he gets the happy privilege of taking the loaded to almost bursting garbage bag down to the trash can. The boy begins carrying the bag but ultimately winds up dragging, flipping, pushing and bouncing the bag down the steps to the trash can, all without a mishap. He then picks up the bag and tosses it into the can without incident.

What is at stake here is the integrity of the bag. It has to be able to handle being overstuffed and then punished profusely in order to be the bag for America. One rupture, one tear, one little problem where little Johnny gets goobie all over himself and the bag doesn't work. Truth be told, that's what we want out of a trash bag; for it to hold up from the kitchen to the curb. Once it's to the curb it is the problem of the experts, the sanitation engineers, the garbage guys. They take it, haul it off and dispose of it properly.

So what have we stuffed in our garbage bag? No, not the one under the kitchen sink or in the hall closet. The one labeled, "The Blood of Christ." What have we stuffed in there? Have we surrendered everything to the blood of Jesus? When we called out to Christ for salvation, did we give Him every sin or have we been holding something back for future references? I know what you're thinking. Doesn't He automatically take all of our sin? Not so fast. He does wash away our sin, but is there a sin that He either can't or won't wash away?

"For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins." Hebrews 10:26 Maybe we think that God expects us to continue to sin so this is the one sin we'll hang onto. Maybe we have a habit that keeps us from totally trusting and surrendering to God. Maybe we have fulfilled anger issues. Or maybe we think that this one just won't fit the garbage bag. Does that mean that we question the ability of Jesus to save? Often, willful sin is the realm of those who believe in Jesus, but they just don't quite buy it that He can forgive every sin. They think that one is just too big and will burst the bag.

"For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified." Hebrews 10:14 "Perfected forever" is a guarantee. God is saying, "Go ahead, stuff that garbage bag. In fact, over stuff it." There is nothing that won't fit. No matter how much it gets banged around as we try our best to live for Jesus, but fail from time to time, it will not rupture. It won't break. It may be dragged, flipped, pushed and even bounced down the stairs. It won't break. Give the blood of Jesus Christ our Lord every sin you have. He'll keep it all to Himself against that day. He'll be sure to keep the grabage in.

"God's Words For US" from Cecelia Lester

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