Trading Places

Some of you may remember the 1983 movie Trading Places, which starred Eddie Murphy as a small-time street hustler and thief who, as part of a bet, reversed statuses with a wealthy Wall Street investor. Billy Ray, Murphy’s character, gets everything that belonged to Louis; his high paying job, his Manhattan mansion, and millions in the bank. While Louis is set up and jailed for a crime he did not commit, ending up broke and homeless. There is a bit more to the story but that’s the gist of it. I didn’t make the connection years ago when I first saw the movie, but I came across it recently and as I do with so many things now, I see portions of this movie’s story line as analogous to the redemptive work of Christ on the cross. II Corinthians 5:21 says that God made Him, Jesus, who knew no sin to be sin for us so that we can become the righteousness of God through Him. He was completely without sin and yet, He loves us so much that He took on and took away our sin (John 1:29). When we repent and accept Christ as our Savior and God the Father looks at us, He no longer sees the stain and stench of sin, He sees the righteousness of God the Son, Jesus. In and of ourselves we are not worthy of so great a sacrifice. But as the song says, Jesus Thinks we are “To Die For”. If you have not already done so, I encourage you to cry out to God, ask forgiveness of your sins, accept Christ as Savior, and allow Him to trade places with you.