985) I have well over 100 sick days in my school “bank”. I even had more than that when I left my teaching job in North Carolina. I am out rarely because having a substitute in my classroom makes my job more difficult afterward. Not that the substitute did a poor job. In fact, many of the subs I have had have gone over and above what I left because they cared about the kids, me and the idea of doing a good job. But, when the bottom line is inspected, my students do better when I’m there consistently.

Paul knew that there are people on this earth who prefer a substitute rather than the one in charge. Maybe this is because they don’t like the requirements they have under this person. Maybe it feeds their egos to “figure out” how the world came to be rather than recognize that the Bible says God created it. Whatever the motivation, Paul tells us in Romans 1:18-23 that it is not good to substitute someone or something for God and, in reality, who would be a better leader? One who is loving, kind, and fair, or one who may or may not have our best in mind.

Which is better?