Was it worth it?

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Scripture

“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?
(Mark 8:36 NASB)
“For what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
(Mark 8:37 NASB)
“For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
(Mark 8:38 NASB)

 

Observation

These words of Jesus come right after he tells them that they must deny themselves, take up their cross and follow him. However, if one doesn't do that, one does just the opposite. The opposite is to fight for your personal rights and your personal things. Yes, if you do this you might gain all kinds of power and wealth in this world, but is it worth it? Are you willing to exchange eternity for the things of this world?

 

Application


When we stop and think about the things that the world has to offer, we have to as ourselves, "was it worth it?" Jesus was asking the disciples the same question because he knew that what they were forfeiting was their soul and eternal life with the father. You can't live half loving God and half loving the world. Those kinds of divided loyalties are destructive, and Jesus' question cuts right to the heart of it. "What will a man give in exchange for his soul?" Are we so afraid of what the world thinks that we are ashamed of what God wants to accomplish in this world? Are we so desirous of power that we are willing to ignore what God truly wants from us? Is there anything that you can gain here on earth that is worth your soul?

The response should be a wholehearted "no" but I'm not sure that IS the typical response. As much as we want to believe that we are totally sold out to Jesus Christ the simple temptations of the world seem to be lingering around us and trying to draw us to him. We want to look respectable to those around us, we want to be accepted by them. Maybe this religious stuff would look or seem strange to others. Yes, it just might but is it worth your soul? This is not a time to be ashamed of Jesus Christ. This is a time to deny ourselves and to take up the cross and follow him. To the world, or even to others that call themselves Christians we may look a little crazy with our radical embrace of Jesus, but we are called to follow him and we must be obedient to that call, no matter what. And it will be worth it! He has promised.

 

Prayer


Lord, may the distractions of the world fade into the distance as I seek your face. Amen.

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