“You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your countenance.” Psalm 90:8

Stashed Trash!

Walking through the scars of the Carr Fire, I see so many things that were previously hidden by the trees and thick brush. The fire revealed not only the natural topography of the land, but also things not natural to the environment, “stashed trash.” Some of that trash includes: litter of all kinds, rusty remnants of an old dump site, an abandoned grocery cart, what may have once been a hobo or gold miner’s camp, tires and parts of old cars, even small appliances!

There is a place for trash, and dumping it in our beautiful woods is not where it belongs. Just because it is out of sight doesn’t mean it’s been taken care of. It’s still there.

All that stashed trash made me think of hidden sin. We can deceive ourselves by justifying and rationalizing it, denying it or hiding it, but it still remains. We can even properly place our trash in the garbage can, but if we don’t take it out to the curb to be picked up and disposed of properly, it only becomes heavier and stinkier, weighing us down and eventually attracting flies and rodents.

One day all that is hidden will be brought to light, for “. . . there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account” (Hebrews4:13). So just as that wildfire swept through and exposed all the garbage that was not dealt with properly, there is a Day of Judgment coming—a fire that will expose everything, “for our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29).

But there is good news for us—the gospel of Jesus Christ! Without Jesus, we have no way of dealing with our “trash” (sin). But we don’t have to let fear or regret cause us to stuff or hide our sin. The blood of Jesus can wash away every trace of our past sin with all of its guilt and shame! “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1).

Are you trusting in His shed blood? He is waiting with outstretched arms to lovingly welcome you, forgive you, heal your brokenness, and restore your soul! Jesus bids us to come (Matthew 11:28; Revelation 22:17). Don’t stash it—take it to the “curb” (cross)!

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever” (Psalm 118:29).

“Lord, thank You for loving us. May Your goodness and mercy continually draw each and every one of us to You!”