Earlier this week I was once again awakened in the wee hours by a noisy garbage truck picking up cans on my street. I was annoyed, and as I tried to snatch a few more minutes of sleep, I imagined what it might be like if there were no garbage trucks.

Images from news stories of big city garbage strikes immediately filled my mind; reeking mountains of burst black trash bags blocking sidewalks, inviting rodents and flies. The mental picture made me shudder with revulsion. I began to appreciate those noisy trucks and the men who faithfully show up to remove our broken, stained, and dirty refuse; things we no longer want in our lives. It isn’t always convenient when they show up, but what a blessing!

When garbage piles up in our lives, we become trapped behind it. We can no longer see beyond the decaying cast-offs. This isn’t true in only a physical sense. How amazing that our great God has provided His children with a virtual garbage truck, a means of removing the nastiness of our sin and shame.

His grace arrives, not only once a week, but whenever we call upon Him in repentance and ask for His forgiveness, leaving us with clean, uncluttered lives to use for His glory.

But if we confess our sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away.

1 John 1:9 (CEV)