In the bustling heart of New York City, as the holiday season approached, an unexpected urban drama unfolded. Sanitation workers had gone on strike, causing garbage to accumulate at an alarming rate. Amid the mounting crisis, a creative solution emerged that highlighted the irony of human behavior. Residents began packaging their refuse in festive wrapping paper, transforming mundane trash into what appeared to be enticing gifts. Surprisingly, this unconventional strategy proved effective. Local opportunists, mistaking the wrapped waste for potential treasures, swiftly carted away the disguised garbage. The incident served as a humorous commentary on perception, opportunism, and the power of presentation in an increasingly complex urban landscape.

Curiosity gnaws at me about the fate of those unwitting thieves. What became of their anticipated treasure when they realized they were mere pawns in a disposal scheme? Their disappointment must have been palpable, likely punctuated by a colorful vocabulary far more expressive than my own restrained language.

The thing is, oddly, many people seek trash and garbage, figuratively. They seek after false religion all wrapped up in attractive gift wrap. Then one day, perhaps when least expected, they find out just how bad that garbage is. What’s worse, it’s permanent, forever even. There is no way to return it. Worse, they will realize they turned down the free gift of salvation offered by Jesus for the garbage. They would not have had to steal that gift of salvation. All they need to do is accept the gift from Jesus and totally put their faith in Him.

Strange. Most people prefer garbage, with the false belief that they are getting something of value.