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On July 1, 1996, the Charlotte Hornets traded away their draft rights because they wanted a 7-footer from Los Angeles named Vlade Divac. At the time of their agreement with the Lakers, the Hornets did not know exactly which player they would be giving up to secure Vlade. When the time came for the Hornets to draft a player, the Lakers instructed the Hornets to select Kobe Bryant. 

In the end, the Hornets gave up the draft rights for none other than Kobe Bryant in exchange for Vlade Divac. Could this be the worst trade ever for the Hornets? Kobe won 5 NBA championships and was an all-star 18 times. He scored 81 points in one game! The Lakers may be the most popular NBA team, whereas the Hornets have had to relocate to New Orleans because of poor attendance. From the Lakers' perspective, this was not the worst trade ever, but the best trade ever! 

There is a TRADE that has been made available to every human being on the planet, one that you can’t afford to pass up. From one perspective it may be the worst trade in history. It is unfair. It is not even or balanced. It is so extreme that it does not seem right. Yet from the perspective of the individual, it is very simply THE BEST TRADE IN HISTORY.

Why do I need a trade?

You need a trade because you were born with something that God cannot accept into His presence. Romans 5:12 says that “by one man sin enter into the world, and death by sin, so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

You were born with sin and sin separates you from a holy and righteous God. Every human needs a trade because he or she cannot even come close to God because of their record of sin!

Have you ever broken God's law? Of course you have. If you have ever lied, stolen, committed adultery in your mind, or taken God's name in vain, you have broken God’s law, and that makes you a sinner. 1 John 3:4 says, “Whosoever committeth sin trangresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”

Your record is full of sin and unacceptable to God. YOU NEED A TRADE. 

What if I refuse the trade?

When a professional player rejects a good trade, things could get bad, but no matter how difficult it may get, the player will probably still be a millionaire. Also, he still has a life, a family, friends, and can still enjoy his sport. The results of refusing God’s trade are much worse. If you refuse God’s trade and choose to keep your sin record, the Bible says that you are under the wrath of God. John 3:18b says, “But he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

When a human rejects God's trade offer, things will be worse than he or she could ever imagine. Because God is holy, He must punish sin. Every human that has turned away from God’s trade is under the judgment of God and headed straight for the place called HELL. God must do what is right and just, and after thinking on your sin record, you must admit that you deserve judgment. 

Hell is a horrible place. Revelation 20:15 says, “Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Luke 16:23 tells the story of a man in hell, saying that he was “in torments.” 

The Bible teaches that hell is a place of pain, weeping and gnashing of teeth, darkness, and fire unquenchable. Furthermore, all those that go to hell most endure that pain for all eternity. WHY WOULD YOU REJECT GOD’S TRADE?

What is this trade, exactly?

2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For [God] hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin: that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to earth and lived as a man for 33 perfect years. He came for one reason: to die. God required a perfect sacrifice that would bleed and die for the sins of mankind. Jesus met the requirement of perfection and willingly laid down His life for us in an unfair trade. He took the penalty for us who are wicked, even though He was perfect.

1 Peter 3:18 says that Christ “hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.” 

Romans 5:8 says that “God commendeth His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

What did it cost to make this trade available?

Isaiah 33:5 says, “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.”

The Righteousness of Christ was made available to us only through His death, burial, and resurrection. Jesus was mocked, beaten, and whipped. He had a crown of thorns driven deep into his head and nails pounded into His hands and feet as he was hanged on a cross to be crucified. He suffered all of this for you. He was buried and three days later He was raised to life again. THE TRADE WAS MADE AVAILABLE TO YOU THROUGH JESUS CHRIST’S DEATH AND RESURRECTION. 

How do I gain access to this trade?

John 3:18a says, “He that believeth on him is not condemned.”

Many people understand that they are sinners, and even that they deserve punishment in hell. Many also have the knowledge that Jesus Christ died and rose again. Yet many people attempt to become “righteous enough” for God to allow them into Heaven by doing good works and living a “good life.” God will not accept your righteousness!

Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Your good works, baptism, church membership, right living, etc., are not enough to pay for your sins and allow you to come to God. YOU NEED A TRADE!

Romans 4:5 says, “But to Him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his FAITH is counted for righteousness.” Acts 16:31 says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”

The only way to escape the wrath of God and gain access to God in Heaven is by depending on Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ will forgive you of all your sins and save you. When He does, He trades your sin record for His righteousness. When this happens, God looks at you and sees not your sin record but His Son, who took your place. Why don't you repent and turn from whatever you have been depending on for salvation and from your wrong thinking and receive Jesus Christ as your personal Savior by faith in Him?

In John 14:6 Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

TAKE THE BEST TRADE IN HISTORY!

Romans 10:10 says that “with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

True dependence on Christ comes from the heart. A simple prayer like the following example can be the way you call out to Christ to save you:

Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and have broken God’s laws. I have fallen short of God's holiness and deserve His wrath. I know that my own righteousness could never be enough to save me. I believe that You died for me to take the penalty for my sins. I know that You were buried and rose again. I depend only on You to save me from the wrath of God. I want to accept the trade You have made available. I take Your righteousness, please take my sins. Thank You for taking my sins and forgiving me. Amen.

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