“God made Him . . to be sin for us.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV
“On a cross is where God makes right what was wrong.”
My thoughts today are about “the great exchange.”
Have you ever had a friend talk you into doing something in their place when you really did not want to, and later wished you had not? I guess we have all done that, or maybe even have been the one talking someone into taking our place. You know how it goes, the old obligating whine of, “Won’t you do this for me? Just this one time!”
But the most unbelievable substitution that has ever taken place in all of history was when Jesus died on a cross for sins – not for His own sins, but for yours and mine. And wonder of all wonders, Jesus did it willingly, even gladly. “Jesus was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy He knew would be His afterward.” Hebrews 12:2 NLT.
Here’s how the Apostle Paul describes this great exchange, “You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, rich as He was, He made Himself poor for your sake, in order to make you rich by means of His poverty.” 2 Corinthians 8:9 TEV.
That’s how God always works for those He loves. Through His Son and our Savior, He gives what you lack and could never gain on your own, in exchange for what you never needed but of which you could not rid yourself. How would you explain how stubbornly you hold onto what has never done you any good? Why would you be reluctant to let that go in order to receive something so immeasurably better?
There are haunting questions that Jesus asks. “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:26 NIV. Those are really rhetorical questions; questions to which the answer is either painfully obvious, there is absolutely no good if a man loses his soul – or one for which there is clearly no answer, for there is absolutely nothing a man can give for his soul, nor price that you can pay to redeem your soul once forfeited.
But God knew what alone could be given in exchange for an eternal soul – a sinless and eternal sacrifice. “We implore you on Christ’s behalf: be reconciled to God. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 NIV.
That’s why God chose to give His Son to die on a cross for your sins. There was no other way the guilty could be counted innocent, no other way a bound soul could be set free, no other way ones’ wrong could be made right, no other way a man or woman bound for a godless hell could enjoy God eternally.
On a cross is where God makes right what was wrong. – where God gives beauty in exchange for ashes, joy in exchange for mourning, praise in exchange for heaviness. Read Isaiah 61:1- 3 NIV. That’s a great exchange, wouldn’t you agree?
My prayer for you today is to accept the gift God gives. See 2 Corinthians 9:15 NLT.