Exchange Rate Problems

When I was a kid and my Mom got me a new book from the book mobile at school (bring back memories anyone? 😁), I remember I would always open the book and see the price was listed inside the cover. Now you probably know where I’m going with this, but I couldn’t understand why there was two prices, and moreover, why one was so much more than the other.

What I always took away from that moment was I was glad I didn’t live in Canada because it seemed like everything was more expensive. Then fast forward from 1996 to 2016 when my wife and I went on our honeymoon to St. Lucia, and I exchanged 50$ USD and felt like I just won the lottery with the amount of local currency they handed me. I walked away from that instance thinking, “when can we move here?”

Let’s look at something else:

Psalm 106:20 (ESV): They exchanged the glory of God
for the image of an ox that eats grass.

If one puts in their mind the context as the Psalmist takes the reader through an overview of Israel’s history and exodus, and then you get to verse 20 and if you’re anything, like me, this overwhelming wave of conviction crashes over you for how many times we do this even now.

We fail to behold the wonder of God and all His works in our lives on the daily. We are burdened down by life, circumstances, distractions, and allow our selfishness and constant complaining of why our life doesn’t look like the way we dream it up, to exchange the glory of a sovereign God for the worthless currency of this world.

Life is more than our dreams, our comforts, our wants, it is about experiencing the goodness and grace of God every minute of every day. Every breath we take is mercy, every minute we have with our families is a moment of grace. It is a moment of steadfast, enduring love from a perfect God who is patient and slow to anger. We are knuckleheads who constantly are in the back seat of life asking “are we there yet?” At least I am.

I’m challenging myself to trade back in the currency I’ve obtained of looking at circumstances over the greatness and glory of God. I’m challenging myself to remember this:

Isaiah 46:12–13 (ESV): 12  “Listen to me, you stubborn of heart,
you who are far from righteousness:
13  I bring near my righteousness; it is not far off,
and my salvation will not delay;
I will put salvation in Zion,
for Israel my glory.”

How did God do that? How did He fulfill that promise? Jesus Christ.

The cross.

The moment that those nails pierced His hands for my transgressions, I was brought into His perfect righteousness. Thankfully because of this, when I repent of trying to control my life, God is merciful because of His Son’s perfect work.

This is what fixes our exchange rate problems. I pray God blesses you and helps align your heart alongside mine, to His will.

BMT