trash truck

It’s quiet here………………

except for the sound of the garbage truck stopping in front of our house to pick up our trash.

It’s easy to get rid of some of the things we don’t want in our life anymore.

Bag them up.

Set the out.

And wait for the right person to come take them away.

Forever.

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It’s not that easy to toss away other things though.

Painful memories.

Regrets.

Words spoken too quickly.

Actions taken without considering the consequence.

There are just some things a trash can will never hold.

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The Israelites were given specific instructions for getting rid of things a trash can couldn’t hold.

Mistakes.

Regrets.

Sin.

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Kill this animal or that.

Perfect.

Spotless.

The best of the flock.

Sprinkle the blood……….on all sides of the altar.

Offer all of it.

Every part.

I really don’t like reading this part of the Bible.

It makes me cringe.

Wonder.

Question.

There’s no easy way to read through Leviticus.

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And then I think about my sin and what it took to really rid my life of it.

Forever.

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The ultimate sacrifice.

Perfect.

Spotless.

The best in the flock.

Giving His whole life…………..every part of it.

His blood spilled.

For me.

To take away the trash a garbage can could never hold.

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When I really think about the crucifixion……………

really let my mind go there…………

I cringe.

I wonder.

I question.

There’s no easy way to read about the death of Jesus.

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I hear the garbage truck again.

The beeping as it backs up.

The clanging of the cans as they’re dumped.

My trash being taken away.

I don’t think I’ve ever paused to say “thank you” for such an easy way to rid my life of garbage.

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And the sound of the truck crushing the bags filled with all the things I do not want to keep………………………

it haunts me this morning as I think of Jesus and what He did for me so long ago so I could let go of so many other things I do not want to keep.

Isaiah 53:5

But he was pierced for our transgressions,

he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was on him,

and by his wounds we are healed.

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Thank you, Jesus, for taking away all the things a garbage truck never could.