What Would You Give In Exchange For Your Soul?

While here on Earth, Jesus did not shy from describing what awaited Him.  In fact, Jesus explicitly informed His disciples of what was to come.  Matthew recorded, “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day” (Matt. 16:21).  Then, in his own presumptuous way, Peter protested.  “Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord:  this shall not be unto thee” (Matt. 16:22).  It is somewhat amazing to read of a man (Peter) rebuking God (Jesus), but that is what happened.  I do not question the intention of Peter.  I imagine he thought that he was doing a noble and admirable thing to defend Jesus from such suffering.  After all, on the night of Jesus’ arrest, Peter took a sword and cut the right ear of Malchus in defense of his Lord (Matt 26:47-56; Mark 14:46-50; Luke 22:50-53; John 18:10-11).  However, Jesus did not take Peter’s rebuke lightly.  Instead, Matthew mentioned, “But he turned and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me Satan:  thou art an offence unto me:  for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men” (Matt. 16:23).  Peter was not thinking about spiritual things, but rather physical things.  Without the death of Jesus, no man could be saved.  Jesus knew this.  For the sake of mankind, Jesus needed to die (Lev. 17:11; Heb. 9:22-28).  He was willing to give His own life so that the souls of mankind could be saved (John 10:17-18).  Nothing worldly, including His physical life, was worth more to Him than obeying the Father’s will.  By doing such, He provided a real-life demonstration of commitment.  It was that kind of commitment that His apostles were to have, and not just them, but all Christians.  Where does our level of commitment register?

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it:  and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?  or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?  For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.  Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom” (Matt. 16:24-28).  How do you think the apostles took such questions and statements?  The answer is not hard to find for a student of history.  Every one of the apostles, save Judas, who killed himself, and John, who died of old age, were martyred for Christ and Christianity.  They were not willing to compromise in any way when it came to their faithfulness.  Nothing of this world was worth more to them than obeying God and going to be with Him in Heaven.  Can we say that we live the same way?

Just for a moment, let us think personally about what Jesus asked.  Is there anything in this world, or even the world itself, that is worth more than our souls?  After all, we are made in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27).  Long after this world is destroyed, our souls will continue to exist (Luke 16:19-31; 2 Pet. 3:1-14).  We will either be in a place of comfort and joy, or we will be in a place of punishment and agony.  Neither of which, Heaven nor Hell, will never cease.  Why would we want to “enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season,” when we can have the pleasure of Heaven forever (Heb. 11:24-25; Rev. 22:5).  Yet, so many are living in that very condition.

During His life, Jesus endured temptations like we all do (Heb. 4:15).  Included in those temptations are what we find in Matthew chapter four.  Satan offered Jesus the things of this world.  He would give them to Jesus if He would fall down and worship the devil (Matt. 4:1-10).   Each time Jesus was tempted, He forsook the earthly for the heavenly.  That should serve as encouragement and example to all of us.  There really is nothing that we should give in exchange for our souls.  We should do everything that we can to be so committed to the Lord that nothing will draw us from His side.  How is your soul?  Would it go to Heaven if Judgment started right now, or would it go to Hell because you exchanged it for sin and this world?
~ Corey Barnette