BEAUTIFUL MUSIC FROM BROKEN LIVES
Out of a garbage dump in Cateura, Paraguay, a sublime sound rises: an orchestra performing on instruments constructed from recycled trash. Approximately 1,000 residents survive there by picking through the garabage. When Favio Chavez and Luis Sazaren, both professional musicians, witnessed the residents’ deep poverty, they opened a tiny music school. Quickly exhausting their supply of musical instruments, residents began creating instruments from recycled materials.
Besides common items such as such as buckets and tubs, they include a cello made from an oil can, a drum set using X-rays as skins, and a violin created from a salad bowl. The “Recycled Orchestra” plays classical music, folk tunes, and even some rock numbers. Chavez observed, “People realize that we shouldn’t throw away trash carelessly. Well, we shouldn’t throw away people either.”
That’s how God works in our lives. When we come to Christ, He pulls us out of the “garbage heap” of sin, and cleans us up. Transforming us into instruments for His glory, He creates a new life and identity for us. Second Timothy 2:21 declares that we are “instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master.” Romans 6:13 states, “present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness” (ESV).
The Lord is the Great Recycler, redeeming the garbage in our lives to glorify Him. Consider Rahab, Samson and Peter— all “losers” in the world’s eyes. But God converted their garbage into fine instruments, which produced magnificent music. Likewise, He takes our failures— addiction, abuse, abortion, divorce— and creates a sublime sound of transformed lives.
The next time the enemy whispers in your ear, “You’re nothing but pile of garbage,” just smile and say, “Yes, but I’m God’s redeemed garbage, and we make beautiful music together.”
Ponder:
What areas of “garbage” (former mistakes) can God transform into an instrument for His purposes?
How does knowing that God transforms us from the “garbage heap” of life into fine instruments help you in your daily struggles?
Pursue: For a deeper dive, study Romans chapter six.
Loving Father, your grace is truly amazing. Only you can take a piece of dead trash and create a living instrument for your glory. Please keep me ‘in tune’ with you.
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Photo courtesy of Annapolis Moms