What do you gain?

“What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?”  (Matthew 16:26, NIV)

  We often think of the thought of “forfeiting our soul” or “losing our life” as the damning result of seeking only and at all costs, the gaining of the world. This was definitely was the focus Jesus intended to give as in the context as He speaks of judgment, glory and death but there is more. Just before, Peter is cautioned about seeing things from a “human point of view.”  It is possible to gain the world and lose your life and soul.  Jesus is telling us that simple fact. 

     Yet the loss is not off in time somewhere … it is also here as we live.  We lose our life and our soul as we live because we live for the gain that we seek and the gain is not eternal or everlasting. It is an illusion, false, tormented and unfulfilled existence and end in contrast to our created and redeemed purpose in following Christ.  We all can follow after something as we live and many times it is not the everlasting but the sensual, material and endless other attractions to the mind, eyes and emotions.  If the ultimate and total heart goal becomes these others gains, we will lose our lives and our souls.

    A certain sadness prevails upon us when we witness someone desperately in pursuit of something only to lose their very soul.  We can see this tragic harshness of ultimate loss in our friends, family and even in our culture as as they chase after the pursuits of fame, wealth, societal rank and success finding them to be illusions leaving a deadly wake of brokenness, disaster and failure. 

    Jesus knew the loss of our purpose, peace and identity in true fellowship with God was the greatest loss possible and although we may gain the world … we would not have life here or in eternity. We would have lost our souls.  To exchange anything that will not last for the grace of God in Christ which is everlasting will always be the ultimate and greatest loss in this world and in eternity. 

“Oh, that you had listened to my commands! Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river and righteousness rolling over you like waves in the sea.” (Isaiah 48:18, NLT)    

  Suggested Bible Reading ... Matthew 16 & Isaiah 48