THERE was an interesting question put by the Lord Jesus Christ when here on earth. It reads thus: “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36, 3736For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Mark 8:36‑37)). What a question, friend. Can you answer it?
Business man, you love the Profit and Loss Account if there is a good balance; nothing gives you greater satisfaction than reckoning up your profits. Here is a Profit and Loss Account. On the one side put the world itself―the whole world―and on the other your soul―your own soul. Oh, think of the value of your soul―immortal, never dying―your priceless soul. Now strike the balance!
To man, nothing on earth is so precious as life. In the Book of Job, Satan says, “Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life” (ch. 2:4). If, then, natural life is of such immense value, what about the life of the soul in eternity? Oh, unsaved reader, stop in your mad pursuit of the phantom pleasures of this poor world, and for a little think of the interests of your soul.
A sad affair that illustrates the truth of Satan’s word, “All that a man hath will he give for his life,” happened not long since.
In a small town of Northern Italy dwelt an old miller. By working late and early, and by dint of oppressing his workmen, he had amassed a considerable fortune. He purchased a handsome house, and settled down with his wife and two children to enjoy life.
Just about this time the people began to complain bitterly at the exorbitant price of grain. The complaints soon became savage growling’s, and the people turned their resentment against the wealthy millers and merchants who kept up the prices.
Early one morning this miserly miller was awakened by people shouting under his windows. He dressed hastily, and on looking out saw with alarm that his house was surrounded by a savage mob. A howl of execration greeted his appearance, and the mob demanded admittance. He asked them what they wanted. “Your life!” was the grim reply. He begged long and earnestly that they would go away, but in vain; and as a last resource he produced his much-loved money-bags. Handful after handful of his precious gold he scattered till all was gone, and yet the battering at his door continued. At last with a crash the door gave way and the mob rushed in. Up the broad staircase they surged, and burst open his bedroom door. On his knees the wretched man begged for mercy. “Take all,” he said, “house, furniture, everything, but spare my life.” Alas! he pled with those who knew no mercy, and so he was cruelly murdered before his wife and family.
What a lesson this teaches us. All he had accumulated after a lifetime of toil was willingly parted with because it was in the balance against his life.
Now, friend, the question is, What shall it profit you if you gain the whole world and lose―not your life―but your soul? the loss of life is bad enough, but what mind can e’er conceive the horror of passing into eternity a lost soul? A lost soul! what inexpressible agony lies in that word “lost”; how it rings down the eternal ages―how it echoes in the caverns of hell. What a tale it tells of opportunities missed, rare chances let slip, time wasted, and then a fearful eternity in the lake of fire.
Oh, friend, be wise now―reckon now. Call up all the world ever gave you, all it is ever likely to give, and balance it against your soul eternally lost. Have you yet got salvation? The apostle John speaks of having eternal life. Can you say, “I have eternal life”? If you cannot, let your earthly position be what it may, you are immeasurably poorer than the least of God’s children. Solomon says, “My son, with all thy getting get understanding.” As a servant of Christ I would say to you, friend, “With all thy getting get salvation.” You may easily do without other things, but salvation is absolutely necessary if you would not eternally lose your soul You need salvation, for all have sinned, and the wages of sin is death. You must be saved, for you cannot save yourself. God has said of a man―His own blessed Son― “Neither is there salvation in any other.” In Christ alone is safety.
Turn aside then from this giddy, godless world for a moment, into the quiet of God’s presence; look your position fairly in the face, and as you see yourself a lost and helpless sinner, turn to Him and trust Him. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shall lie saved.”
J. K.