by Brad Jolly
As a kid, did you ever dream of becoming somebody else? Maybe it was a sports figure, a musician, entertainer, or maybe the star quarterback of your high school football team. I know that you might be laughing as you recall that memory, but truthfully, we have all done this. We look at what someone has accomplished, or what all they have, and then we would give almost anything to become them and live their lives as our own. Just the chance to exchange their life for ours: to become them, and they become us. We take what they have, and they can have our “normal” life.
What if the roles were reversed, though? What if someone who who has it all wants to take your place, take your normal every day life and identity, and be you in exchange for their life you desire. You may be thinking, “Why in the world would somebody that great want to become me? I don’t have anything they would would really want. Why would they give up everything they have to become me?”
The truth is, that Someone has already done that. Jesus. He exchanged His life of perfect righteousness and fellowship with the Father with yours to take your place on the cross.
“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 5:21
Jesus Christ Himself exchanged all the He had (His sinlessness, perfection, righteousness) for your sin and separation with God. In effect, He willingly took your place on the cross, taking your identity, and being punished for all your sins; yes, taking the very wrath of God against your sin, so that you can take on His identity through your faith in Him.
It’s the most beautiful exchange ever. He gets all the ugly filthiness we have, and we get every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies (Ephesians 1:3) that belongs to Jesus.
My friend, there has never, nor will ever be, a more beautiful exchange we could ever have. And it is not a dream, it is an eternal truth. Thank Jesus today for how much He loves you and what all He has given you through His grace.