WHAT THEN SHALL IT PROFIT A MAN...?

WHAT THEN WILL IT PROFIT A MAN IF HE GAINS
THE WHOLE WORLD AND LOSES  HIS OWN SOUL?
                     (Matthew 16: 24 - 26)

       When He had called the people to Himself, with His 
disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come

after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and

follow Me.

       For  whoever  desires to save his life will lose it,  but

whoever  loses his life  for My sake  and  the gospel’s will 
save it.

       For what will  it profit a man if  he  gains  the whole 
world and loses his own soul?

      Or what will a man give  in exchange for  his soul?"

     Admittedly, the followers of Christ, today, have  great

difficulty with  this passage of Scripture.  There are some

church  congregations teaching  some things   foreign to

this Word from our Savior.  Many times Scripture is dia-
metrically opposed to  current thought in "religious" cir-
cles and the message is "watered down" in order for it to 
be acceptable.  It takes a level of Spiritual maturity  seen
rarely in this life for one to accept the passage along with 
this:

"For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this 
adulterous and  sinful  generation, of  him  the Son of 
Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory 
of His Father with the holy angels."

    Regrettably,  I  also have had difficulty receiving this 
one  message and  incorporating it into life.   It is much 
easier  to think of being a Christian as always pleasant; 
requiring  little if  any sacrifice on  our part.  Of course, 
the opposite is true.  Then,  again;   Is there anything in 
life,  worthwhile,  that  does not require  sacrifice,  hard 
work and is thankless at that.   If you or I are expecting 
to be  commended and  highly  regarded  with a reward 
here  for  doing  the "right"  thing,   we  will be  greatly

disappointed.   "But  without  faith  it  is  impossible  to 
please Him, For he who comes to God must believe that 
He is,  and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently 
seek Him."   (Hebrews 11:6) The reward of  the believer 
comes later, when it will be an eternal reward, not some 
temporal  blessing.  One other  question;  does the word 
"diligently" give  you pause as  it  does  me?  Just  how 
does my life measure up to this principle? Have you and 
I been diligent?  Webster  defines diligent  as, "Charac-
terized   by  steady,  earnest,  energetic  application  and 
effort; Painstaking."  Also implied is the word, "haste." 
   

      One day I will stand before my Creator and Savior, 
who  for  me made the ultimate sacrifice.   He gave His 
very  life's  blood to atone for my sins.   What will  I say 
in answer  to  the penetrating  questions  He will ask of 
me?  God forbid  that you or I fail to hear; "Well done,
good and faithful servant:  You were faithful over a few
things...  Enter into the joy of your Lord."  (Mt. 25: 23)

In the allegory, 'Paradise Lost," by Milton, Satan was 
said  to remark, "I would rather reign in Hell  than to 
serve  in Heaven."   That  option is not  available to us 
anymore than it  was to  Satan.  Would you  not rather 
reign with  your Lord and Savior in His Kingdom than 
to  suffer  eternal destruction in  hell?  Those  two  are 
our only options.   Satan's  "rule"  in  Hell  is  not  an 
acceptable way to exist for eternity.

     You and I are unable to determine whether a friend
or  relative is destined to  suffer or be eternally blessed. 
There are, however; behavior patterns for clues and we
must always be  ready to communicate the  reasons for
the hope that is in us, since we are "in Christ."  I am
convinced it is related to our salvation experience.  The
Scripture says that if we confess our  Lord before men,
he will confess us as well.  (paraphrase)  One way we
confirm our relationship to our Lord is when we com-
municate  our confession of  faith in Him, to someone 
we  believe might be outside of  faith.  Study Scripture
to increase your faith and as in Romans 10: 9-10.....
  "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord
Jesus, and believe in thine heart that God has raised
Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the
heart a man believeth unto righteousness and with the
mouth, confession is made unto salvation." 
 
                                                     (edited  9.19.17)  
(Scripture quoted is from the New King James Version.) 

Thanks for looking.            donporter 1.03.14