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The Bible Says
There was a small town nesting in a valley surrounded by towering mountains. In this town there was a very elegant restaurant whose owner was particularly careful about his garbage. He had only new, painted, clean garbage cans. All entrails, raw or spoiled meat was first put into small bags and tied before being put into the garbage cans. The very poor found his garbage cans a wonderful source of good food. There was a young man in the teens who daily made his way to this garbage can for his meals. He was dirty and ragged but, had circumstances been different, he would have been a very handsome young man. He was sorting the food one day in the garbage can when a very rich man from a castle overlooking the city stopped to talk to him. “Young man, may I have your attention, please?” “Me,” the young man gasped, his entire attention fixed upon the rich man. “Yes,” the gentleman replied. “I would like you to come home with me. I want to adopt you as my son. I will train you and prepare you for your inheritance. All you have to do is come with me and agree to do as I say.” “Oh,” the young man gasped. “Can’t you just give me the money and let me live here where I am comfortable? This street is my home! And this garbage can is my delight!” “Oh, no!” The gentleman gently answered. “You must come with me and learn how to live as a gentleman. You can only receive your inheritance if you follow my instructions. But you would live in my castle with me and would never want for anything else again. You would not have to sort garbage to eat. I want to make you my son!” Sadly, the young man said, “I would love to go with you but I get such good food from this garbage can. I would miss it so much. I just cannot give up my life on the streets and my clothes and my garbage can, to go with you.” -- Unquote
Some prefer to wear rags and to feast upon garbage, simply because they have known nothing better. When God led the people of Israel out of Egyptian bondage, they thought they were being abused, and they told Moses exactly that. They preferred slavery to freedom, because as slaves, they got all they wanted to eat! Some have a similar problem today. “For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ; whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things” (Philippians 3;18,19). The rich man in Marvine’s story had fallen in love with that young man and wanted to adopt him into his family. He wanted him to grow up with his other children and take on a family likeness. We soon become like those with whom we associate. “For we have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but we have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15).
In an article titled, “The Discipline Of The Darkroom.” B. C. Lovelace compares the Christian experience to photography. He says that in taking a snapshot, an image is made on the exposed negative the instance the shutter opens. Before the picture can be seen, however, the film must go through the developing process in the darkroom. So too, at the moment of conversion the light of the Savior floods the heart of the new believer, and Christ’s own likeness is indelibly impressed upon his sensitized spirit. But this miracle of grace must be followed by a process of development. The Savior’s image becomes visible as we are changed into His likeness. Paul wrote, “But we are all with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (II Cor. 3:18).
This transformation often involves the “darkroom” experiences of adversity, but the true disciple no longer complains about what he has to give up!
“The Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be glorified together” (Romans 8:16,17). What an enticement Jesus has to offer the hungry soul! But this young man had not read far enough, as yet! Consider verses 18,19. “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the ernest expectation of the creature (redeemed man) waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God” Anything we give up for Christ . . . even garbage can pancakes and left-over hamburger . . . does not compare with the love He bestows upon us!
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