Romans 3:23
Feb. 1, 2004
Often when you and I think of Jesus we think of the God-Man. We think of perfection. We think of Heaven, streets of gold, walls of Jasper, gates of pearl. We think of white robes, angels, someone who is laid back, even-keeled, always in control-Jesus.
When we think of Jesus we think of a Man with a clear conscience, void of offense. Seated at the right hand of the Father. We think of Holiness. We think of one who calls disciples. One who is, and was, and is to come. Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. No equal-is God, the Savior of the world!
But you knowÉmy friends all of these characteristics of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ would not mean anything to us if it were not for the fact that Jesus is a trash collector. ThatÕs right, sort ofÉa divine trash collector. You see, God chose according to Divine providence to allow His Son to become a trash collector so that we could catch a glimpse of what we were without Him and what we could become with HimÉthe ultimate trash collector. Jesus became the trash collector of humanity, and opened up a landfill for all our sin. And this landfill is not just open M-F 9-5 or a few hours on Saturday, itÕs not just open on Sunday @ 10:45Ébut the landfill is open 24-7 for folk that have a sin problem, a sadness problem, those dealing with sickness or separation.
First I would like to suggestÉ
1. The trash collector is trained
I have talked to several people who haul trash for a living. One of the things that people have in common that pick up trash is that they really have not had much training when it comes to picking up trash. And I guess there is really only one way to pick up a bag of trash. I decided to back up my personal observations with the internet. I typed in Òtrash hauling trainingÓ and this is what came up.
1. Trash hauler to change to lower rates. (If Jesus is your trash collectorÉlet me remind you he doesnÕt change His ratesÉas a matter of fact he does not charge for His trash collecting serviceÉgrace is steel free! Not cheapÉbut free!2. Rural community Assistance programÑ Òsubtitle--trash talkÓ You want to talk trash? Talk to Jesus, He wants to turn your trash into triumph!
3. Waste Management Equipment Manufactures
Talk about managementÉ. there is no greater Trash Manager available than the God-Man, Jesus Christ!
Let me tell you about the trained trash collectorÑJesus Christ.
Roams 8:3 says ÒFor what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son (the Divine, the ultimate, the extreme--trash collector) in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh.Ó
ThatÕs what training will do for you. Jesus could take care of business. What the law could not doÉJesus could!
Have you ever been trained to do a job?
1. Maybe you have been trained to do spreadsheets in Microsoft Excel.
2. Maybe you have been trained to drive a Semi-truck, you have a CDL
3. Maybe you have been trained to draw bloodÉ
4. Maybe you have been trained to É.just fill in the blank.
Jesus has been trained to deal with sinÉ.what the law could not do--Jesus did. The Divine trash collector took upon Himself all the sin of the world. Stinky, rotten, dirty, no good sinÉHe did what the law could not do. So how about youÉhave you had your trash disposal service updated lately? Have you given Jesus the privilege of picking up your trash? Hurts, bitterness, unforgiveness, abuse-verbal-physical? AhÉJesus is in the trash businessÉand HeÕll take care of your trash!
1. The trash collector is trained
2. The trash collector has a trade-mark
What is McDonalds known for other than cheap burgers and great fries. Well, they have a trademarkÉthe Golden Arches, for the kidsÉ it might be Ronald McDonaldÉbut their trademark is the Golden Arches. When you think of a Macintosh Computer what comes to your mind? Well, there little trademark is not just education based software but they have a trademark it is an apple. What do you think of when you think of Jesus?
Well, I think first and foremost about the fact that Jesus is a friend!
A. He is a friend to sinners---Matthew 11:19 ÒThe son of man came eating and drinking , and they say look a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of Tax collectors and sinners.Ó
Romans 5:8 ÒGod demonstrated His love to us in that while we were yet sinnersÉChrist died for us.Ó
B. -He is a friend to saints--Proverbs 18:24 ÒA man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.Ó
[Andy Griffeth, Opie comes into the sherrifs office and he has his girlfriend with him, Karen, and Opie introduces her to his dadÉand Andy replies like this ÒAny friend of Opies is a friend of mine!Ó] My friends, Jesus is our best friend! You do not have to have any ecclesiastical background, no certain name, no certain colorÉJust rest assured whether you are a sinner or saint you are a friend of Jesus.
1. The trash collector is trained
2. The trash collector has a trade-mark
3. The trash collector is a transformer
(Growing upÑtransformers were the big thing, ÒTransformers in disguiseÓ)
Jesus has not disguised himself. He made it plain to us why he came. He came, according to Luke 19:10, The Son of Man, Jesus, the trash collector, came to seek and save that which was lost! This process was put in place so that we could be Òtransformed by the renewing of our minds and become acceptable in the sight of God.Ó (Romans 12:2)
The motor home has allowed us to put all the conveniences of home on wheels. A camper no longer needs to contend with sleeping in a sleeping bag, cooking over a fire, or hauling water from a stream. We can park a fully equipped home on a cement slab in the midst of a few pine trees and hook up to a water line, a sewer line and electricity. One motor home I saw recently had a satellite dish attached on top. No more bother with dirt, no more smoke from the fire, no more drudgery of walking to the stream. Now it is possible to go camping and never have to go outside. We buy a motor home with the hope of seeing new places, of getting out into the world. Yet we deck it out with the same furnishings as in our living room. Thus nothing really changes. We may drive to a new place, set ourselves in new surrounding, but the newness goes unnoticed, for we've only carried along our old setting. David Roher
My friends, meet my friend, Jesus Christ, the ultimate trash collecting transformer! The adventure of new life in Christ begins when the comfortable patterns of the old life are left behind. Old things will pass away and behold all things can become new! (II Corinthians 5:17)
1. The trash collector is trained
2. The trash collector has a trade-mark
3. The trash collector is a transformer
4. The trash collector is trustworthy!
Probably by now you know that if Jesus the trash collector is trained to take care of sin, if his trademark is being friends with sinner and saint alike, and he is willing to transform those who give Him a chance, then He ought to be trust worthy. But it has been my experience that just because something looks good does not always mean that it can be trusted! (How Ôbout those boys on lake Michigan last week, walked out on the ice, ready to do some ice fishing, and they became an island to themselves..) [How Ôbout the economy, how Ôbout your car? It may look good, smell good on the inside, but if it wonÕt, you may not go far!]
But with Jesus, the trash collector, what you see is what you get! You get a trained specialist that loves to dig through the trash of lifeÉbitterness, loneliness, hurts of life, sin, adultery, homosexuality, and Jesus is trustworthy!
1. Jesus is trustworthy to send the right person along your path! Philippians 2:19 Paul said ÒI trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly that I also may be encouraged when I know your state.Ó Paul needed some encouragement so he new God would be faithful to get word through Timothy to encourage him about the Philippian church! Jesus will send the right person along your path!
2. Jesus is trustworthy to deliver us! I Corinthians 1:10 Òwho delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that he will still deliver us.Ó
SoÉJesus is not only trust worthy to send the right folks along your path but He is also trustworthy when it comes to delivering you!
If hope is not outweighing hopelessness let me recommend Jesus the trash collector! If smiles have been replaced by the sadness of the moment, let me recommend the landfill manager, Jesus Christ. If the memory that sits on the couch of your soul is an unwelcome guest let me offer you Jesus, the trash collector! Jesus wants to reach out for your trash this morningÉ.He is saying Òyou just canÕt live with thisÉjust give it to me!Ó
5. The trash collector is trained
6. The trash collector has a trade-mark
7. The trash collector is a transformer
8. The trash collector is trustworthy