Exchange Rate
Matt Miles • June 10, 2021
Have you ever regretted a purchase? Exchanging one item for another has become very important as we purchase more and more online. Online purchasing comes with the inherent risk that you may not get what you paid for. Maybe you bought an item to replace another but then you realize the original is better. This scenario has happened to most of us. It is also the premise behind Romans 1:25, “who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”
We often have exchanged what we have known to be true for a lie. At the time it seemed like we were going to be better off. The new thing is “better”, it fills my needs more completely. As an example, we have a generation of students and young adults being fooled into thinking that our main problem is social and racial injustice, and if they don’t agree, they are part of the problem. A small minority of humanists have usurped power over them with a lie. This lie has a foundation in “the lie”, as Satan’s plan is to draw people away from the Truth. If the Truth can be exchanged for the lie, then it becomes easier to manipulate and gain control of a person. Subsequently, “truth” is rewritten to whatever is desired to accomplish an evil agenda, culminating in the giving of a life in worship of self and the agenda.
The Truth sets free while the lie enslaves and condemns. If we would view ourselves as Jesus does, it would be evident that we are all broken. There is none of us good in and of ourselves. We are in desperate need of the Truth to complete us for all eternity. Only when we realize we have all been created in the Truth’s image will we see what we have exchanged for the lie. As I release my will for His, my spirit is renewed by the very One that made it. Then, and only then, will we see sin as sin with the need for reconciliation, loving our neighbor with a desire that they come to the Truth. Only when sin is replaced with a repentant heart will we have freedom to live the life planned by our Creator.
We must keep looking up to our Creator who is the only One deserving of our worship and devotion. Man-made ideas, agendas and programs will only lead to divisive lives focused on “serving the creature rather than the Creator.”
Blessings to all of you who lift this ministry up in your prayers as we continue LOOKING UP and lead others to do the same!
In Genesis 12 the Lord calls Abraham (Abram) to be the father of a great nation. This all happened to Abraham at 75 years old. Some might say that is too late in life to start something new, especially a calling of that magnitude. Yet that was not the overwhelming part to me; that would come in verse 7 when the Lord said the land would be his offspring’s. Wait, what?! The Lord had a plan and His Providence would guide Abraham, even when Abraham did not have offspring and did not wait on the Lord. I have to wonder how I would have reacted to such a call and covenant. As we know from Psalms, the Lord guides and sustains all by His Providence for His name sake, which we are focusing on this year. But does Providence act on our timing? When God called Abraham, he had no children. Yet the promise given was that his offspring would be a great nation in a land saved for them. What we know now is that Abraham wouldn’t have his son Isaac until he was 100 years old, a full 25 years after the covenant was made. Most of the time we expect the Lord’s hand working in our life to be immediate, but that is not always the case. In some cases it might take years to experience the Providence coming to fruition. Remember Genesis 21:2 states Isaac’s birth was at the “appointed time.” This understanding should give us peace as we rely on Providence and, at times, are called to patience. Providence was again on display for us to understand that even in obedient sacrifice He will be glorified, as Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son, Isaac, who was inherently tied to the covenant of the Lord. Abraham was faithful in all aspects, even when most of us might say “no way” to that sacrifice to the Lord. Yet at the right time, through faithfulness in Abraham’s obedience, there was Providence providing behind him in the ram. Our faithful obedience sometimes feels like a tough ask from the Lord, but rest assured He is there, ready to lift up His name through us. Providence continued through time, 100 years later, after Isaac had his sons, Jacob and Esau. Then Jacob was blessed by the Lord with 12 sons, one of which was Joseph, who was sold to Egypt by his brothers. You probably recall all the ups and downs of Joseph’s life, yet he was faithful to the Lord throughout them all. Remember, there was a covenant at stake. The Lord, through His Providence, made sure he had Joseph where He needed him to save the great nation of Israel from famine. This Providence secured the covenant line to continue to Christ. Many times throughout history Providence has guided and protected His covenant, and now you and I can be blessed with inclusion in His great nation through Christ. If it had not been so, then we literally have no assurance of our salvation. Praise be to our Lord Jesus Christ that His Providence is faithful for all eternity, so we may know peace and have confidence in the promised destiny. Our ministry here at CTF has always emphasized the importance of Genesis 12, Abraham’s covenant. We share there is no difference in importance of Genesis 1-11 over chapter 12 and through the entirety of the Bible. The whole Bible is inspired to be trustworthy and to show His Providence throughout history for His name’s sake and also for our salvation. Blessings.
Fort Necessity, also known as the Battle of the Great Meadows