HE Saviour of our souls called the people and His disciples together, and put to them a question of questions― “What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” Let us look the question in the face as honest men and women. Surely the most careless, who would write it down as Christ’s question to himself; and place his own name under it, in acknowledgment of the words being addressed to him, could not read it night and morning for any length of time, without falling on his knees and seeking salvation.
The Lord uses the plainest illustrations of everyday life―gaining and losing―in order to make us feel what the value of our soul is. Hence no one can excuse himself after hearing or reading it. To evade it is to court eternal rum.
The surroundings of this unanswered question are very remarkable, and add intensity to its solemnity. These surroundings may be described as the sufferings of Christ and the glories that shall follow. For just prior to asking the question, the Lord had spoken openly of His rejection, death, and resurrection; and just after the question, He spoke of the kingdom of God coming with power ; and this was followed by His transfiguration.
We ask, therefore, What shall it profit me if I shall gain the whole world and lose my own soul? not only in the light of the vanity of the world, but also in the light of the cross of Christ, and the coming glories of the Redeemer and the redeemed.
Our Lord’s question to us grew up out of His own words respecting His death for us, if we may so express ourselves. Having spoken of His cross, He spoke of our cross― “Let a man deny himself; and take up his cross.” Having spoken of His death for man’s salvation, He spoke of man so living in the world as to go out of it without salvation―lost. Thus from the very wounds and sufferings of the Saviour, this question of questions appeals to our hearts. Looking by faith upon Christ crucified, we whisper it to ourselves again and again.
The kingdom of God came with power upon the earth for the brief moments of Christ’s transfiguration. He had taken the three apostles with Him to the mount; there He prayed, and they slept. Probably it was night. As He prayed the fashion of His countenance was changed; it became as the sun; and His garments became white and glistening. The light of this glory awakened the disciples, as the morning sun awakens the sleeper.
They beheld Jesus glorified, they saw the divine tabernacle of the glory cloud, where He stood together with His glorified servants, Moses and Elias. They were talking with Jesus, and His coming death was the subject of their converse. These glorified saints were at home in the glory, and at home with their glorified Lord.
We have in this picture a vision of heaven, of the redeemed walking in white with the Redeemer. Sorrows past, joy come; the night no more, the everlasting day arisen. As we consider it we may well say, What shall it profit me if I gain this world and lose that glory?