Through The Rubbish Dump

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

2Corinthians 4:7

I observed a young Almajiri (apprentice Muslim youth) as he rummaged through the rubbish dump looking for anything of value. He would pick up this item or that, look at it for a moment or two, and toss it back. "Not Worthy", his seal of disapproval. "How in the world does he expect to find anything useful in this filth?" I wondered. But he plodded right on with hope in his eyes and anticipation in his attitude. He was determined to salvage something out of this royal mess.

In this world where immorality is on the increase and wickedness is rampant, is it not a wonder that God still finds anything or anyone worth saving? He must have a hard time looking at the earth. The Bible says, "The Lord is watching everywhere, keeping his eye on both the evil and the good" (Prov 15:3). What an onerous and unpleasant task, having to take in both the bad and the good. Imagine eating good food that has gone bad. Even the thought is noxious. But He does it in the hope that He will find something good, something worthy of being saved.

But the joyous part of it all is that it really is not about us. He does all the saving. We know that it is by grace that we are saved, through faith. It has nothing to do with ourselves, the way we are. It's not about how we look, how nice we are, or how pleasant is our speech. It's His loving gift all the way, such that none of us can boast about it (Eph 2:8,9). It's no wonder then, that He still finds people to save everyday. He's looking diligently and His task is not yet finished.

As I looked on, the young boy found an old tin can. He looked at it for a moment, turned it over and, with a smile, tossed it into his old rucksack along with the other stuff he had already collected. I observed that as he looked at that can, he was indeed seeing it not as it was but as it could be. Oh, what a wonder! Indeed God sees at once both what I am and what I could be. Is it not that much easier to see why He would choose to save me? Now what I am is not worth much at all. But what I could be! … Well, that's a whole different story.

With love, Doosuur.