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Professional sports teams constantly trade players in order to better their rosters—a third baseman for a pitcher; a running back for a tight end; a forward for a point guard, etc. The Internet provides websites listing the ten best/worst trades, 50 dumbest trades, and the most lopsided trades in sports history. Sometimes one team greatly benefits from the trade; occasionally both teams benefit; but on other occasions, neither team comes out ahead. Every trade involves some risk for both teams.

Have you noticed that life is full of trade-offs? We trade sunshine for much-needed rain; winter for summer; and day for night. We hand over money to have food, clothing, and shelter. We trade youth for life experiences. Marriage brings responsibilities that are on a different level than single life, where there was more freedom of time, finances, and flexibility. Substitute teachers make less money than full-time teachers, but they have the opportunity to say yes or no to teaching opportunities. In the financial market, generally when stocks go up, bonds go down. You may trade in your older car that is paid off for something newer and more comfortable; however, you now have car payments and higher insurance premiums.

Some trades are optional—such as spending money, marriage, and trading cars; others, like the weather, are not. Usually, these situations have both pros and cons.

The spiritual life provides the greatest trade ever offered, without any downside for us. Adam and Eve were created as sinless humans; however, they sinned in the Garden of Eden by choosing to eat fruit from the only tree that was forbidden by God—the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He warned them they would die if they ate it. They traded life for eventual death (Genesis 2-3). Because of their sin, all humans are born sinners (Romans 3:23).

God, being omniscient, knew they would do that, so He had a plan. Thousands of years later, Jesus came to earth as a baby—born to a virgin, Mary. He humbled Himself to become a man—a sinless man who chose to trade places with sinners by taking all of our sins on Himself that we might have His
righteousness and eternal life. At age 33, Jesus was falsely accused, beaten, and crucified unjustly that we might have life. “The Lord has laid on Him [Jesus] the iniquity [sin] of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).

1 Peter 2:24-25 explains that Jesus “bore our sins in His own body on the tree [cross], that we … might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray.”

“Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18).

As sinners, we start out on Satan’s team. Jesus’ death and resurrection made it possible for us to be traded to God’s team—permanently. He paid the price. You are a free agent with the ability to choose whose team you will belong to for eternity. This trade is optional. It’s up to you. You have everything to lose by not accepting the trade and everything to gain by trading your sinfulness for God’s righteousness.

You’ll never receive a better offer. Accept it today. Simply admit to God that you are a sinner by birth and actions; ask for His forgiveness of sin; and accept His offer of salvation based completely on the fact that Jesus died on the cross in your place. Trade death for life; sinfulness for righteousness. He is waiting for you to join His team.

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