I was told that I stunk!
The words from one teammate's observation about my smell and the responses of others in jokes and laughter around the dinner table stung hard. Me? Stink? It's only month 3 and I'm already stinky and filthy? I am someone who takes pride in my personal hygine, and so far I've managed to maintain a decent level of it on the race, apparently until now.
The embarassment from the passing remark failed to escape me. The worst thing was, that I actually got up and showered that morning, then put on my work clothes, the pants and shirt that had been worn daily as we slaved away in the coffee fields, by the carpinteria's bodega. They were soiled with dirt, grease, sweat, paint and who knows what else. That was the source of the not-so-pleasant smell. Nevermind I took the time to shower that morning.
As my frustration subsided I was reminded of the Christian life with this little incident. As Christians, we have been saved and washed clean by Christ. His blood on the cross cleansing us from sin to be pure and blameless. But just as how I showered clean but immediately put on dirty clothes, I often choose to go back to old habits, thought patterns and sinful acts which carry the aweful stench of the world.
It sounds dumb to shower and put on stinky clothes. But this is what we do everyday, we keep on sinning and rely on God's grace to bail us out everytime. When we do so, we continually choose to ignore Christ's sanctification act. If we profess a faith that is Christ given but turn around and keep on sinning we are not being Christ like but might as well be one with the world.
Romans 6:1 says: "Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?"
It's time to turn from our sins and put on our new clothes, ones that carry the fragrance of Christ and are draped with the fruit of the spirit, which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Lord, thank you for using my teammate to open my spiritual eyes to your Truth. I pray that you will continue to convict me of my thoughts, actions and heart posture to be sanctified to be more like you everyday.
