The First Exchange

 It could be said that Genesis tells us that sin invaded the Garden and entered the world through a snake.  As we read the Apostle Paul's letter to the Roman Christians, a different picture unfolds.  Instead of sin entering the world by way of a snake, Paul points to three fatal exchanges chosen by humanity.  The first exchange is set forth in verse 23 of the first chapter.  "...they exchanged the glory  of the immortal God for images resembling a mortal human being or birds or four footed animals and reptiles."  It is a choice made by those who have no intent of honoring God and whose lives are empty of gratitude.      

It is a terrible trade.  There is no other way to speak of it; yet, it is an exchange chosen with such ease that we often do not realize the way life is changed once it is made.  While culture and the church often speak of human nature as being a flawed and tainted thing, the Word of God takes us in a different direction.  We find it easy to say we sin because we are human as if human nature allows no other choice.  The truth is we are each created not as flawed creatures, but as creatures who bear the imprint of a holy Creator.  The original Word says, "Then God said, 'Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness...' "  (Genesis 1:26).    

At creation our human nature is not distorted by sin.  Being in the likeness of God makes it difficult to declare we bear sin at conception and birth.  The original human nature bears His image, not the image of sin.  As we choose this fatal exchange of which Paul speaks, the human nature within us becomes more and more distorted until it often seems that there is no good in us.  Of course, such is never true.  We are created in the image of the Creator and the essence of the Creator is within us.