Garbage in, Garbage out.” That’s just a way of saying if you do poor quality work, you get poor quality results, sort of the negative side of “you get what you give.” It’s often said when computers pour out wrong information.
And it’s generally true. In its wisdom and practicality, our Bible teaches us that trash in the mind produces trash in behavior, and conversely, a good quality life begins with good quality belief.
Like most glib sayings, though, this garbage wisdom doesn’t always hold true. In fact, the actual use of genuine garbage can produce superb results, as when some of it is used as garden compost. Lettuce trimmings and other scraps from salad makings, an apple core, the morning’s used coffee grounds and evening’s tea bags, all have value. And if they’re wrapped in yesterday’s newspaper, so much the better (most newspapers now use soy-based ink so no problem there). Just add the grass clippings and fallen leaves, cover these treasures with a few inches of soil, keep it moist, maybe turn it in a couple of weeks, and soon you’ve created excellent garden soil. You will have recycled, saved space on the garbage truck and in the city dump, improved your garden, and made some earthworms very, very happy. Next year’s tomato plants will thank you profusely.
This kind of garbage recycling, beneficial as it is, pales by comparison to what Jesus Christ does with the offscourings of the human race. During his earthly ministry the Lord often made “acceptable” people uncomfortable because he reached out for the castaways, the undesirables, the refuse. He is a master at taking human garbage and recycling us.
Remember the man whose life overflowed with evil spirits? He was wild, fearsome, and out of control. But when he encountered Jesus this all changed. He regained his sanity and went about telling what Jesus had done for him. An adulteress who was about to be stoned by the “nice” people in her town was told by Jesus to go and sin no more. A common criminal hanging on one of the crosses beside Jesus, a thief who admitted he was being justly punished for his crimes, spoke out in faith and was rewarded with paradise. The story continues. It finally reaches you and me. Jesus makes something beautiful of our lives. Garbage in, saints out. Amazing grace!