While visiting one of our local golf courses, I was wowed by the incredible beauty of God’s creation.

Sometimes Texas gets labeled as a hot, parched, flat, wasteland; when in reality, it has so much variation and stunning subtleties to behold. Hot – yes! Ugly – no!

The heart of Texas boasts rolling hills, ancient live oaks with canopy branches, deep green St. Augustine grass, panoramic sunsets and fields of wild flowers too vast to count.

This particular golf course is the pride and joy of our local “membership only” country club. While the grounds are immaculate, the real show-stopper is the member amenities and the attention to detail.

The staff members are committed to making golf a pleasant and comfortable experience. They even have giant fans at selected tee boxes and greens to keep their members cool.

As I was setting up for our FCA charity event, I walked around back to drop off some coolers. Lo and behold, I came face to face with a big, brown, smelly dumpster, overflowing with trash.

I was taken aback by the juxtaposition of this unsightly, odorous garbage can, overlooking the fan-cooled, perfectly manicured practice green.

Suddenly, this spiritual truth hit me: Everyone has a dumpster!

That’s right – from the pampered country club golfer, to the slightly frazzled FCA staffer, to the down-and-out drug addict – all of humanity has this one thing in common, sin!

We may keep it out of sight, hidden around back, like this dumpster was, but it’s still on the property.

Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Hence, our desperate need for the good news of the gospel, “But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Athlete, there is more good news! Not only does God save you from the penalty of sin, but he also makes arrangements to help you deal with any daily sin that occurs.

Because the truth is, this side of heaven, we still sin. You don’t need to try to hide it any longer. You are not perfect! You are saved, forgiven and cleansed. But perfect? No way!

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

So throw open the can! Let God reveal any and all sin that may be piling up, and humbly yield, letting Jesus remove the smell of our mistakes and the leftover refuse of the messes we’ve made.

But beware of stubborn pride! When self resists revealing sin, don’t walk, run to repentance!