GIGO or GIGO

Pastor Dale — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 05:45:00 +0000

In a fast paced post-modern society, it is often difficult to catch our breath long enough to check our intake filters. There are many examples that show us the importance of using the correct filters and that they are properly cleaned, maintained and installed.

If the intake filter on your vehicle is not functioning properly it can cause various problems leading to a reduction in overall performance. Reduced power and fuel efficiency, build up of dirty deposits, and unpredictable stalling could result from a faulty intake filter.

When it comes to data entry, GIGO stands for garbage in garbage out. This could easily be applied to us and can help us understand the source of our actions and our spoken words. We all catch ourselves saying some of the exact same things that we have heard spoken by influential people in our lives. A personal example comes from a cartoon that my kids were watching and I tuned in just long enough to hear one of the characters shout; “haaarrrvest time!” From that time forward, whenever I wanted to let the kids know that dinner was ready; I would trumpet that it was “harvest time”. While this is a benign example we have all experienced the results of a faulty filter.

The Bible talks about this issue in Luke 6:45. Here is what it says: A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart. (NLT) We have the ability to choose what is stored up in our hearts. Since we all have the freedom of choice, we can choose what we allow to occupy our hearts and minds. If Satan could have his way, we would all become products of GIGO, or garbage out. God has given us a proper filter, but it is up to us to use it.

Philippians 4:8 says: And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (NASB) If we take this advice to heart, we can change the meaning of GIGO to “God in God out”!

Imagine the positive changes we might see in the world if the overflow of our hearts contained more God and less garbage.

Let’s fight GIGO (garbage in garbage out), and replace it with GIGO (God in God out).

Have you checked your filter lately?

Inside Out

GIGO or GIGO