Substitutes
Originally scheduled for
July 19
One of
the most difficult aspects of the English language is that a given word may
take one several shades of meaning, depending entirely on the context. Take,
for instance, the word “substitute:”
One
meaning is that of an alternative – two equal and interchangeable items. For
example, swapping a blue car for an otherwise identical red car at a rental
agency.
Another
possibility is an artificial substitute – as in a sugar substitute for your
coffee. Not really interchangeable, but used for the same purpose, sweetening
your coffee.
Sometimes
we use the word to mean a counterfeit or imitation, as a thief might substitute
a copy of a painting for the real thing.
None
of these meanings touches on the Christian use of the word – which is a
vicarious substitute, Christ at the cross, dying in our place.
Satan
certainly likes to baffle us with other meanings of “substitute.” For example,
we have:
“All
religions are equally true” – so anything would be a substitute for the true
faith. Satan tells us they are interchangeable.
We
also have synthetic religions – substitutes for the real thing just like sugar
substitutes. Not really interchangeable, not really as good, but avoiding what
we see as drawbacks.
There
are also counterfeit religions – those with their own “special revelation.” Add
this and subtract that – it looks the same, but it isn’t.
The real use
of substitution is what Christ did for us on the Christ. Please note these two
things:
First,
he did what we could not do – atone for our sins. Only the sinless man could
do that. He is our necessary substitute.
Second,
he didn’t do it for himself, but for us. He did it on our behalf, because of
his great love for us.
At Communion
we remember this. Christ commands those who love him to remember his sacrifice
at the Cross. Accept no substitutes.
