Replacement Theory

Replacement Theory

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭51:10‬

Such an amazing verse. And the only way to create that clean heart is to take the dirt away. Renewing a right spirit is replacing what is wrong in your life. 

Yesterday we talked about removing yourself or removing those things in your life that cause sin. 

Today we will talk about replacing things in your life. You can remove yourself from the environment that triggers sin, but that may not always be the most convenient thing to do and it doesn’t guarantee that the sin won’t return. Replacing things in your life may offer an alternative and help you succeed in your fight against sin. 

There are substitutions for everything in this world. 

Have you ever gone out to eat and looked at the menu and want to order something but it says “no substitutions”?  What is that?  

There is always a substitution. Always. You are never stuck. 

Everywhere you look there is an alternative, something to take something else’s place. Usually there are two main competitors in any major business, and possibly a third might survive. 

Examples; McDonald’s and Burger King, with Wendy’s as a third. CVS and Walgreens. Publix and Winn Dixie. Rural King and Tractor Supply. Home Depot and Lowe’s. Etc etc etc. 

We can substitute the bad in our lives for the good. Once we remove a sin in our life, if we don’t replace it, it will return. It has to be replaced with something, and not just any old something, something that is pleasing to God. 

If you were addicted to cocaine you wouldn’t want to replace it with heroin. Sure you could say that you weren’t addicted to cocaine anymore, but you get the point. 

Idleness can lead to poor decisions. If you aren’t moving forward for Jesus Christ then you are sitting still for Satan. Satan wants us to be idle. His best work is when we aren’t involved with God. And if you’re sitting still, you aren’t pushing and pulling with something good to replace the bad in your life. 

We have to fill our lives with biblical and spiritual content daily. The moment we stop, we allow the world to enter. I know what you’re thinking, it’s not a problem for you. That’s not it, it’s just not on your radar. You’re not actively thinking about it and that’s just as bad as not actively thinking about God. You can sit and believe that nothing bad is happening in your life. And for the most part, you might be right. If you aren’t bringing God into your daily life, then what is coming in?

Think about your day and what you feed yourself. The content. The music. The conversations. The things you look at it. Is all of it pleasing to God?

We tend to fill our lives with worldly things. Been there, done that. 

Buy a boat, go fishing, take your friends out, drink beer, curse a little, it doesn’t hurt anything, right? Next thing you bring your kids fishing or some friends. Maybe this friend is considering faith and religion in their lives. Next thing you know the worldly music is playing, subtly talking about drinking and sex in the background. You’re drinking beer because that’s what you do when you go fishing. A little bit of cursing. Next thing you know your friend leans in on the world instead of faith. Or maybe the person you are looking to for strength in their faith, is drinking a beer and cursing. What a mess. It’s subtle, but effective. 

Long story - but you can see where the wrong replacements, are wrong. This was me and I didn’t see anything wrong with it. But it was wrong. I’ve said this before, if it goes against the Bible and the teachings of Jesus Christ, it’s wrong. Period. No matter how good you want to try and make it, it’s not!

These ‘little’ things can lead to disruptions and bad decisions in your life. Maybe not to the extreme that you’re thinking - but it could lead to bad parenting decisions, bad health decisions and bad judgement. And over time a series of bad decisions can make for a bad life. 

The good news, replace those things with things that bring glory to God. There is nothing wrong with buying a boat. There is nothing wrong with taking your friends and family fishing. It’s a perfect time to talk about the God you serve and what He’s done in your life. Replace the drinking and cursing with fellowship and wholesomeness. Replace the gossip and lewd comments with consideration and compassion.  Ask questions about God. Provoke the conversation. 

You can replace the toxic things in your life, you just have to choose to do it. 

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:31‬