Down at the end of Princeton Avenue sat an old lot. It was barren with no
trees, but no one ever played on it, as it was source for junk and garbage to be
thrown. Not a dump, but people passing by on South Avenue would throw things
from their cars, and some yard clippings had been dumped there over the years.
A lot that really had no purpose, but to us a place to go and collect deposit
bottles. While looking for them to go buy candy, we would come across girlie
magazines, old newspapers claiming UFO’s are watching us, and stuff just
discarded because it had no place in our homes. Which didn’t matter to us, as
we were after the bottles, two cents for small ones, and a nickel for the big
ones. An hour of searching on a good day may gain us enough for 25-30 cents,
then pulling the wagon up to Crestwood Cupboard to redeem them. We learned they
didn’t take beer bottles, which smelled funny anyway, dirty ones were rejected,
and only Coke, Pepsi, and 7-Up were accepted. No cans in the day, as the only
exposure we had to cans was a new Pepsi machine next to the Coke one still
dispensing bottles. Even though the Pepsi can was 12 ounces, it was 15 cents, a
nickel more than the 10 ounce Coke, even with the two cent deposit, which we
never paid as we drank the Coke in the parking lot while reading about Archie’s
latest love affair. Finances, life, and love was simple, trash got picked up
and kids got paid for it. Today we call it recycling, back then it was a source
to enrich your allowance. And go hunting...
We often wondered how anyone could throw away anything of value like
deposit bottles, but we were glad they did. But as the one way bottles and cans
got popular our secondary source of income vanished. No one recycled yet, cans
were metal, bottles were glass and broke easily, and had no redemption value. A
much different story today as bottles and cans are charged with a recycling fee,
a tax, and then recycled, some times as a source for the homeless. Seems we
have gone full circle, from a deposit on a returnable, to throwaway, then tax
it, and someone will seek it out and recycle it, for money of course. But in
all cases, we start out with a full bottle, its contents are drained, it is
discarded, and then cashed in. From cash to trash to cash, only the names on
the bottles have changed.
We are much like these bottles, as when we come to the Lord we are filled
with his spirit. We are redeemed just like the bottles of old and valuable
again. Like the deposit made when purchased, Jesus deposited his spirit within
us when he purchased, saved us. We went from no value to redeemed, and suddenly
had value again. But unlike the old deposit bottles that were cleaned and
refilled, recycling today can take a bottle and make it into a chair. It can be
reduced to raw material and made into whatever the factory demands of it, the
package may be redeemed, but not to be reused for its original purpose. Our
original purpose was we were created to have fellowship with a loving father,
God our creator. He redeemed us via Jesus, fills us with his spirit, so we can
be used for the original purpose, to worship him, have fellowship, and be
loved. Then to love others as he has loved us. He takes these earthen vessels,
cracked pots as he calls us, and redeems us, we are truly new in Christ. And
immediately filled with his spirit. We all get the same spirit upon salvation,
yet some only get renewed weekly, or when empty, when God wants us to be full
and filled continually. We were created as insufficient on our own, and he
fills us as needed, he is sufficient. Continually. Just as some get thirsty
and dehydrated because they wait too long, our spirit cries out for his
continually to be filled. And only Jesus can fill us up and keep doing it over
and over. Once a week church, sporadic praying and Bible reading, and trying to
do it by yourself will not and cannot do it, the one who put his label on you
has the rights and the way to keep you filled. We need Jesus, and yet some
receive him and live like they are the empty lot on Princeton Avenue, rooting
through the trash just to get by. When we were once the throw away life and he
redeemed us.
And while others try to satisfy this Godly urge with worldly things, only
Jesus will satisfy. Be filled with the spirit he says, do not be drunk on wine,
or the things of the world. It is up to us to choose what fills our worldly
container, God or the things of the world. Being a Christian doesn’t absolve
you from the temptation, Jesus doesn’t force his will on anyone, it is our
choice. He bought you, paid the deposit price, and filled it with his spirit.
Are you mixing it with other things diluting him in your life? Does your label
claim Christian yet hold a rotting product within? The spirit comes from
within, and there is plenty for any and all situations.
Religion may recycle you with ideas, standards, beliefs, and doctrines.
Only Jesus makes you new again. He warns about putting new wine in old
wineskins, a fresh product must be put into a sterilized package. His spirit
only dwells in those made new in him, born again. Drink today of anything else
and you will thirst again. But drink of the spirit, and do it continually and
never thirst. Stay filled up. Too many lives end up like the old bottles on
the lot on the end of Princeton Avenue, broken and worthless. With no value to
anyone. Jesus sees us different. Only he can provide the constant filling of
the inner strength we need. Or you may be the lot that needs cleaning up.
Start today, before you cannot. Rules and laws keep many from Jesus today, just
try reading a Bible in school, yet it may be safe to say more praying goes on
before a test than at any other time. You cannot stop the spirit, or quench it,
it quenches your thirst. Many things may drive you to drink, only take in
something that doesn’t let you lose control. And when that someone is Jesus, we
have his spirit, which is where power and strength come from.
As kids we were searching for something to redeem, we were seeking a
redeemer and didn’t know it, the spirit even the calling us to Christ. Don’t
ignore the call any longer, no need to thirst. Save your money for the
important things like chips and pretzels. Knowing you have something to wash it
all down with. Coke may add life, I rather trust in the words of Jesus, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never
go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.”—John 6:35 NKJV.
love with
compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com