“As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.” Ecclesiastes 10:1

The other day a couple of us were cleaning up the church for Sunday services. This is a very enjoyable time for me, because I get to spend time talking about Jesus with a fellow friend and believer. It was going very well. I picked up the gathered trash, tied the bag and proceeded to the garbage can outside. Then the stench hit my nose!

Apparently, the last time the trash can was emptied, the garbage guy left the lid open. Heavy rain had filled the bottom with about 3” of water. But I KNEW that smell well and… it WASN’T from rain. Peering in, I saw a bag at the bottom that could ONLY be explained by a dead animal inside! I ALSO knew it hadn’t been placed there by any one of us! Being experienced at stench, I got some bleach, dumped it the can, and then left!

I mentioned that I have extensive experience at stench…and I do. I COULD tell you stories to prove that MY experience is probably stinkier than yours. But without a ‘stink-o-meter’ and a ‘judge,’ my conclusion is only opinion. Besides, who wants to win THAT contest?!! Yesterday I walked by the trash can again… let’s just say that the bleach didn’t work!

I am an expert at the stink of sin and because I am, I can say that Paul lied when he called himself “the chiefest of sinners.” HE isn’t… I am! But even even winning THAT contest would require a ‘sin-o-meter’ and a ‘judge!’ And right about now I am REALLY EXCITED to inform you that ‘The Judge’ has LEFT THE BUILDING!

Stench is subjective and requires both an event AND a participant. God smelled the COMBINED stench of ALL human sin… and chose to take it upon Himself to REMOVE its offense…once and for ALL! The place was called Calvary and the trash was my sin. ALL OF IT! As the hymn writer of “It is Well With My Soul,” said, “I bear it NO MORE!” Get it?

There is no one I know of who will take care of the growing stench in the can. SOMEONE has to take care of it. That someone is me! Why? Well…didn’t I just brag that my stench experience being worse than yours? And now you have the perfect example of WHY… ‘YOU’ and ‘I’ are called to ‘testify’ to the Grace of God! It’s because of EXPERIENCE!  So….‘press on’ stinky guy!