Gum

Gum is something some people love and others hate. My dad falls into the hating it category. As a child I loved the flavor of bubble gum, but it never lasted that long. So rather than spitting it out I would just put another piece in my mouth. One question I heard frequently as a child was, "How many pieces of gum do you have in your mouth?" My dad hates the sound of chomping and chewing. I had to be careful eating pretzels because of how loud they could be. (My dad isn't annoyed by every noise, he just doesn't want to hear people eating).

My wife and I were at my parents house briefly this weekend, and somehow a story from my childhood came up. My little brother had a plastic cup full of gum balls and so my mother proceeded to share this story. When I was young she went in to deep clean my room. And when she looked behind the head board of my bed she was greeted by a collection of chewed gum. I have no idea why I put it there, I remember doing it, but have no clue as to why.

Gum is something that I've always loved, but since getting my first filling last month, I haven't chewed that much. Some kinds are full of sugar, and do nothing good for you other than maybe strengthening your jaw and keeping people occupied by blowing bubbles. But there are some kinds of gum that can be beneficial.

In recent years I began to chew gum that was approved by the American Dental Association and was said to help prevent cavities. Other types of gum help whiten your teeth as you chem. And every gum with a minty flavor of any kind will freshen your breath. Three benefits, and three things that point to Christ.

We all have sin in our lives, the Bible says in Isaiah 64.6, "For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; and all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away." We are unworthy to stand before God because of our sin. But Isaiah 1.18 declares, "'Come now, and let us reason together,' Says the LORD, 'Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.'" When Jesus enters our lives He cleanses us and makes us white.

When Jesus enters our life we must be transformed. In John 8, after saving an adulterous woman from death He forgives her and tells her to go and leave her life of sin. When we follow Jesus we strive to become like Him, and as we do sin has no place in our lives. The cavities of sin are prevented by Christ living in us, and us striving for righteousness as servants of God.

A life that is full of Christ is fresh and pleasant. It is full of life and joyful. People who follow Christ are people that others want to be around. They brighten a room, and bring hope because they reflect Christ to the rest of the world, they shine as lights in the world as Paul said in Philippians 2.

To God alone be the glory!

Peace be with you