Sewage and Sinners

I do have a way of creating catchy titles, don't I? Or maybe just this one....

There's just no other way I'd rather spend my night than digging, working, and playing in the mud and sewer...NOT! I hope it's something I never have to do again, actually. There are times in life that I'd rather not learn valuable lessons, like how one would clear out a sewer pipe. It would be nice to say that maybe it will be good to know later in life, or perhaps I could put it on my resume? Sometimes my life astounds me. It often leaves me laughing, and crying. Or again today, I may have considered doing both at once. Not only was I dirty, tired, and hungry (I didn't start after eating a meal, and who exactly wants to make a meal after they've started into this kind of project?), I dropped my phone into the sewer. Yep, my phone. It was an interesting night to say the least.

However, the purpose of my writing isn't so that you can have a peek into the unfortunate events of Hannah Swan, but rather to see the things learned from the unplanned. Here 'tis, on sewage and the sinner:

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  ~Romans 5:8

Now, I would like to say that most of us Jesus followers can generally see the magnitude of Jesus dying for us. It's of utmost importance to understand why God in the flesh, our Emmanuel, would do such a thing. That act gives us hope, salvation, eternal life, let's us see the power of God, and His victory over sin and death. But sometimes I don't think we realize just how much of an act of love it was. It makes sense for God to die for us, to give us freedom over sin and darkness, a chance to spend eternity with Him. But it is an act of true love. He did it while we were yet sinners. He gave his life to set us free while we were yet sinners. When we were wallowing in our sin, like sewage, we were filthy, we stunk, we were unpleasant to be around, maybe we were grouchy, frustrated, and emotional. But God says, you, I choose you. I'm willing to give my life for yours. I don't care where you've fallen or where you have been, my love is still the same.
I have a friend who is a complete gem. She went and bought me dinner and chai tea. It was an act of love, and I was super thankful. When she got up to leave, I joked that I would give her hug, but maybe it'd be best for her if she just kept her distance. But you know, that's when Jesus embraced us. We were dirty and we smelled, but Jesus died for us, while we were in that state. He gives us a bear hug. He comes into contact with the nitty gritty, and then He says, why don't you let me help you? I'll help wash you off, get you cleaned up. Let's change those clothes, scrub you down. He tells us that He has much better in mind for us. He loves you, and wants to take you out of the sewer. He calls you to something so much greater, He demonstrates His love toward you. 

"Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you..." ~Ezekiel 36:25-26

"And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." ~ 1 Corinthians 6:11