PHIL was a brilliant math student and fond of challenging his fellow classmates to a trial of skill in solving difficult problems. One day a classmate came into his room and laying a folded paper in front of him said, “There is a proem I wish you would help me solve.” Then immediately he left the room.
Phil eagerly unfolded the paper and there, instead of a problem in mathematics, were traced the lines:
“What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Mark 8:3636For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Mark 8:36).
With an air of utter contempt and disgust, Phil tore the paper to bits and turned again to his books. But in vain he tried to shake off the impression the solemn words had made on him. The Holy Spirit pressed home his convictions of guilt and danger so that he could find no peace, till he found it in believing in Jesus; for it is only in “being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Rom. 5:11Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1).
Phil became a faithful follower of His crucified Saviour and a preacher of the gospel he once despised. His first sermon was from the words so wondrously blessed to his own soul: “What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” Mark 8:3636For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Mark 8:36).
ML-01/20/1974