What Goes In Doesn't Have To Be What Comes Out

Most people know the meaning of G. I. G. O. It’s computerese and it stands for “Garbage In, Garbage Out.” In reality computers can’t think for themselves and operate on the basis of data typed or programmed in. They put out what has been put in, so if we input stupid, wrong data (Garbage), we will output stupid, wrong data (Garbage).

We have also heard the statement, “You reap what you sow.” If we plant barley, that seed will not grow into corn stalks. It’s B. I. B. O. Barley In, Barley Out.

If you put in a cup of plaster of Paris in place of baking flour, you will bring out plaster biscuits. P. I. P. O. Yummy!

If you put water in a bucket, water is what will come out of the bucket. W. I. W. O.

It holds true morally, spiritually mentally and physically, too. The Bible says, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” Galatians 6:7-9 (NASB).

If we sow seeds of discord the crop will be dissension. if we sow seeds of lust the crop will be immorality. If we sow seeds of Scripture the harvest will be salvation and the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

But, though it is normally true that what we put in is what will come out, there are exceptions, like putting rancid fast food cooking oil through a process called trans - ester- ifi -cation. Trans-ester-ifi-cation is the chemical process that transforms waste oil into diesel fuel. .. A small amount of catalyst – usually sodium chloride – is added to the mix to kickstart a chemical reaction. So it’s O. I. D. O. Oil In, Diesel Out.

There are also times when God alters the normal input - output process. He takes whatever is put into our lives and produces something quite a bit different than would normally occur. He makes G. I. G. O. mean Garbage In, Good Out.

When God goes to work, what goes in does not have to be what comes out. We will consider King Jehoshaphat and all of Judah as they relearned that lesson

“Now it came about after this that the sons of Moab and the sons of Ammon, together with some of the Meunites, came to make war against Jehoshaphat. Then some came and reported to Jehoshaphat, saying, ‘A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, out of Aram and behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar (that is Engedi).’ Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So Judah gathered together to seek help from the LORD; they even came from all the cities of Judah to seek the LORD. Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD before the new court, and he said, ‘O LORD, the God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens? And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You. Did You not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever? They have lived in it, and have built You a sanctuary there for Your name, saying, Should evil come upon us, the sword, or judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before You (for Your name is in this house) and cry to You in our distress, and You will hear and deliver us. Now behold, the sons of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom You did not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt (they turned aside from them and did not destroy them), see how they are rewarding us by coming to drive us out from Your possession which You have given us as an inheritance. O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.’ All Judah was standing before the LORD, with their infants, their wives and their children. Then in the midst of the assembly the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite of the sons of Asaph; and he said, ‘Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the LORD to you, “Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s. Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley in front of the wilderness of Jeruel. You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the LORD is with you.”’" 2 Chronicles 20:1-17 (NASB)