SLURP

I am amazed that there is a science to packing clothes.
No more throwing things into suitcases.
It is suggested that vacuum packing is the way to go.
There is something about vacuuming the air out of a bag of clothes that confounds me.

I am not a good packer.
I like things streamlined, but I like them nearby.
It is hard to think of things that I may need whether overnight or for a few days.
I don’t like living out of a suitcase.

My husband, on the other hand, is an excellent packer.
He travels for work or when he goes on international trips to build homes.
I am amazed at how much he gets into a little bag.
I just laugh if he thinks that I will be able to fit my things in a little bag.

Many people have chosen to put their clothes into special plastic bags.
These specially designed bags protect, organize, and compress your clothing.
The bags are designed to triple the amount of storage space in your suitcase.
You put the clothes in the bag and vacuum out the air to compress up to 10 garments.

There is something about seeing clothes vacuumed-packed that doesn’t sit well with me.
I am sure the system works, but it is not for me.
I saw a short video of something one mom does to pack her young son’s clothes.
She simply laid out a shirt, put his shorts on top and put his socks on each shoulder.

She started at the bottom and rolled everything into a tube.
She took the ends of the socks that were hanging over the edge and opened them.
She slipped the roll of clothes into each end of the sock.
She was left with a small roll, which could easily be packed in a suitcase.

I liked this idea.
I liked it so much better than vacuuming my clothes as they sit in bags.
I can imagine the sound as the plastic bag is being compressed.
SLURP!

I smiled when I thought of that sound.
I used to teach that sound to my children and the children I taught in Sunday school.
SLURP!
They were intrigued.

When you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in Him, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. He is the down payment of our inheritance, for the redemption of the possession, to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:13,14)

Sealed.
When you believe in Jesus for your salvation, you are sealed with the Holy Spirit.
Sealed because you belong to Him.
Vacuum-sealed so that everything else is removed and you are compressed close to Him.

SLURP!

Sealed so that nothing can snatch you from His hand.
The seal is a down payment.
The seal is a seal of ownership.
The seal is a pledge pointing to our future redemption.

SLURP!

Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, and set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (2 Corinthians 1:22)

The “now and not yet” of our faith.
We are sealed, knowing what blessings we have now.
However, we are not yet enjoying its fulfillment.
We are sealed, safe, and protected.

SLURP!

Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On Him, God the Father has placed His seal of approval. Then they asked Him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.” (John 6:27-29)

Being sealed is important to our faith.
Jesus has His Father’s seal of approval.
We are sealed by the Holy Spirit.
Ownership now; ownership for the not yet.

SLURP!

Can you hear it?
Have you been sealed?
Have you been vacuumed-packed for the Lord?
Have you been sealed and compressed so that you are close to His heart?

Listen to that slurping sound.
There is no better sound in the world.
The “now and not yet” of our redemption.
SLURP!