“…For the Lord, your God, moves about in your camp to protect you and to deliver your enemies to you. Your camp must therefore be clean so that he will not see among you anything unclean and turn away from you…” –Deuteronomy 23:14

While Filipinos were in a frenzy to celebrate Christmas, it’s not too difficult to discern how festivities immortalizing the birth of Jesus Christ did not really conform to His teachings and the known doctrines of Christianity. Why? Just look at the news. From Luneta Park in Manila to the Riverbanks Center in Marikina City and other locales across the country where people expressed their Christian faith, tons of garbage was left behind after commemorating Jesus’ birth.

This corroborates an undeniable truth that Filipinos, in their hearts and minds, do not know the real value and meaning of their faith. To many, Christmas means nothing more than self-satisfaction and materialism. However, shouldn’t true believers have taken care of their waste and not left it lying around after one of the most important days on the Christian calendar?

The Bible commands cleanliness

Closely examining the Bible, one will see there are commands pertaining to the maintenance of cleanliness. In Deuteronomy 23:14, it states cleanliness is tantamount to godliness or holiness – cleanliness must be maintained at all times to make it godly or holy. Why must an area be clean and holy? God passes through these places to dispense blessings, guidance, and protection to those who faithfully and sincerely obey His commands. Although, if a place is dirty, God will never treat is as holy or godly and will not “pass through.” I believe this is a reason why those residing in areas that reek with garbage usually find life difficult.

God knows who made a place dirty and these people will never be granted blessings, guidance, and protection because, by dirtying one’s place with their garbage and trash, they defy His commands.

According to many other verses of the Bible, for people who disregard and violate the commands, God allows them to be destroyed by poverty and abuse.

It is therefore very important for all people to be clean and tidy. They must always remember these places are owned by God and cannot be desecrated with waste or garbage.

***

Thank God, in the name of Jesus, free legal assistance program “Kakampi Mo Ang Batas” is back! The show airs Mondays to Fridays, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., on Star Radio Catbalogan in Western Samar and live on Facebook at the Melanio Lazo Mauricio, Jr. (facebook.com/attybatas) and Star Radio Catbalogan (facebook.com/starradio901) pages. To call or send messages, contact 0977-805-9058./WDJ