In many cities people regularly put cans, bottles and newspapers out on the curb for the recycle man. Recycling makes many of us feel good. Living in one of the most consumptive cultures the world has ever seen can be bothersome. Knowing our newspapers and stuff are going to be used again helps assuage our concern.
When you think about it, God is a great recycler. But He is not so much into cans and paper as He is a recycler of people. Moses was a murderer and God recycled him into the great Old Testament lawgiver. Paul was a murderer and God recycled him into the great New Testament evangelist and theologian. David was a murderer and God recycled him into the great psalmist. Matthew was an outcast Roman tax collector consigned to hell by the religious authorities and God recycled him into Jesus’ biographer.
These are good stories. God takes the fallen and recycles them into blessings to others. God is truly the great Recycler so there is indeed hope for each of us.
Written by Roger Bothwell on March 2, 2001
Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
rogerbothwell.org