DO NOT LOSE YOUR SOUL SEEKING WORLDLY THINGS

PROCLAMATION

“What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?  Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?”  Mark 8:36-37 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, which were spoken by Christ according to Mark, a companion Simon Peter.  After He left Gennesaret with His disciples, Jesus went to an area in the vicinity of Tyre.  While He was there, a woman approached Him and fell at His feet saying that her daughter was possessed by a demon.  The woman was Greek, and Jesus responded to her that it was not right to take food from the children of God and toss it to the dogs. (Mark 7:24-27)  She responded to Him, Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.  Jesus liked her reply and immediately healed her daughter. (Mark 7:28-30)  Then Jesus left Tyre and went to Decapolis where some people brought a deaf man who could barely talk to Him and He healed him. (Mark 7:31-37)  Again large crowds followed Him, and He had compassion on them because they had not eaten.  In a remote area, He fed four thousand men and their families with seven barley loaves of bread and several small fish. (Mark 8:1-9)  Jesus left there and went to Dalmanutha, then crossed the lake and went to Bethsaida where He healed a blind man. (Mark 8:10-26)  From there He went to the villages around Caesarea Philippi where He again predicted His own death. (Mark 8:27-33)  Then He addressed the crowd and told them to deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Him.  Then He asked the crowd, “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”  If you deny Him before man, He will deny you before God in heaven. (Mark 8:38)

APPLICATION

Nothing on earth is worth selling your soul to obtain it.  Nothing is worth spending eternity in hell.  Only foolish people will purchase worldly pleasures with the loss of eternal life.  All of the riches in the world are not a sufficient ransom for one’s soul.  Don’t be shortsighted and sell your soul to the devil in exchange for anything.