WHAT WOULD GIVE IN EXCHANGE FOR YOUR SOUL?
Matthew 13:44-46 The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
What would you give in exchange for your soul? If you could have anything you want and as much as you want, would you take it if it meant that you would have to spend eternity in hell where you would be tormented for ever and ever? Well, believe it or not most of the world is going there for far less. For some people it is simply to be able to sleep in on Sunday morning. The devil doesn’t have to make great concessions for people to give up on going to heaven for all eternity. All he has to do is let you be you.
Our carnal nature is enough for most people. The carnal nature that has been passed down from Adam and Eve to each new generations that simply tells God, “No, I want my will to be done.” And because of our free will he will let us do it. The thing is most people don’t live their everyday life in light of eternity and the consequences of their actions. Some seem to think that there will always be tomorrow, but there may not even be another minute. My brother had a massive heart attack and they said he died before his body hit the ground.
Mark 8:34-38 says, “Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the angels.’”
What is Jesus getting at? Does Jesus expect us to give up our life for him in order to go to heaven? No not at all. In fact Jesus even said if you are persecuted in one town go to another. Jesus would sooner have us live a blessed life here on earth, so that others would want to become Christians too. Besides we are saved by faith in the grace of Jesus’ atonement, and there is nothing that we can do including giving our life for him to be saved from hell.
So what does he mean by taking up our cross and following him? Are we supposed to drag a cross around wherever we go? No! Are we supposed to do like some people in the Philippines and other parts of the world by having themselves nailed to a cross at Easter? No! I believe that Jesus is saying that we need to daily die to our carnal nature, and want God’s will for our lives. He wants us to be wholehearted for him. What husband or wife would want a relationship based on love that was continually being betrayed? I would think that most would not unless it is simply a relationship based on convenience. Jesus even goes so far as to call us his Bride and treats us as he would his wife. He is even jealous for us. Our relationship is seen as special to him. I Peter 1:18,19 says, “For you know that it is not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” So we see it was no little thing that Jesus redeemed us with his life.
Our relationship with Jesus has to be seen by as us as the most desired and priceless possession we could ever have. It is far greater than our gift of forgiveness and eternal life in heaven. We are talking about God’s only begotten Son! He the pearl of great price. He is the greatest treasure we could ever have. Matthew 11:12 says, “From the day of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.” In other words not only can we not let anything thing keep us from trusting in Jesus to be our Lord and Savior, but we have to do everything we can to obtain it.
We must have the mentality that we will fight, claw, bite to overcome anything that stands between us and Jesus. If our pursuit of Jesus is anything less than wholehearted for him, we are not worthy of him! So, is it wrong to be lukewarm about our commitment to Jesus? Well, would you consider it alright for him to be lukewarm about you and forgiving all your sins? I don’t think so! I wouldn’t want him to be that way towards me! God gave us his best when he gave us Jesus. At the very least we can do is to give him our best in return.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us Jesus to be our Lord and Savior. We are so unworthy, but we thank you with all our heart! Please help us to always be passionately wholehearted in love with him. We ask this in Jesus holy name.
