Point 2. THE INCOMPARABLE WORTH OF YOUR ETERNAL SOUL
Mark 8:36-37
You have a soul that is why you are alive, you have a soul to be saved and that is why Jesus came. You have a soul which is the most important treasure in your life. That soul, which is the breath that came from God will never die, but will go and answer before God for everything you have done, immediately you depart the earth. There are many people who don’t understand that we are in the period of probation on earth now. We are on earth not just for the temporary gain of life, nor for bread and butter. The Lord brought us to this world so we can prepare for eternity. Many have forgotten that, and do not prepare their soul for heaven, so they lose it. “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36). Everybody has just a soul, a soul to be saved, to get to heaven and avoid hell; a soul to be in relationship with God forever and ever. There lessons here:
(i) The Great Worth of Your Soul – Genesis 2:7; Psalms 49:9; Matthew 10:28. Why is the soul so precious and great in the sight of God? “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7). The soul of man is precious and great because he has the breath of God in him. Man is eternal as God Himself is eternal and nobody could give redemption for that soul except God Himself through His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ Who died on the Cross to redeem man as his Saviour and Lord. How valuable is that soul? (a) The soul is greater than the whole world; (b) it is more precious than all the things on earth; (c) it is greater than all the wealth and money in all the banks of the world; (d) it is greater than all the positions and privileges you can have in the world; (e) it is greater than your body, belly and pleasure of the body; (f) The soul is greater than the favours and frowns of all men; and (g) it is so great enough for Christ to purchase with His own Blood. He did not purchase the planet, but your soul because it is valuable. This is why we will not exchange anything for our souls. “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). Stand on your convictions; keep and appreciate your soul. Always remember that whatever they killed or take away from you, your soul is greater than that. You will fear the Lord.
(ii) The Grievous Waste of a Lost Soul – Mark 8:36,37; Luke 12:16-20. “Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:37). Lost souls are wasted, they have wasted their opportunities and the possibility of getting saved. “And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” (Luke 12:19-20). If somebody is running after money, material gain, certificates, riches and degrees that he abandons serving God, if he loses his soul in that pursuit, God calls him a fool. What makes us rich is towards God is not money, houses, certificate, children, extra-moral studies, women. Don’t risk the loss of your soul. Don’t neglect your soul for perishables. You will not lose your soul for money, possession, women, men, and church politics.
(iii) The Gracious Wealth of Liberated Souls – 2 Corinthians 8:9; Ephesians 1:7; 2:4-5; Colossians 1:27; Revelations 3:17-19. “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9) He is talking about the riches of righteousness, salvation, sanctification, Holy Ghost power and opportunities in the kingdom of God. “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7). His grace comes into our lives, our sins are forgiven, and our names written in the Book of Life in Heaven, that is the wealth of the soul. All that grace can accomplish in your life, that is the wealth, and you will not lose your wealth (Ephesians 2:4-5). As you have been zealous in time past running after money and riches of this world, turn that zeal around and run after salvation, soul winning and the things of God.
Point 3. OUR INCOMMUTABLE WATCHFULNESS AGAINST EVERLASTING SHAME
Mark 8:38
This is a kind of watchfulness that is not interchangeable, and this must always be in your life because there is a devil that wants to drag your soul to hell. So, you need to be watchful so that you don’t lose your soul. “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:38). Whosoever cannot stand for the salvation he has, the Lord Jesus said he will be ashamed of such a person on that final day. You will not be ashamed of the Lord who was nailed, stripped of His clothes, wore a crown of thorns on the Cross all for you, just to save your soul; your shame to bear and your destiny to put on and make you get to Heaven. Why are people ashamed? They have the fear of man and forget the Word of God, their soul and salvation. Three lessons here:
(i) Contemptible Companions Ashamed in the World – John 12:42-43; 2 Timothy 2:12. This is like a man who had paid the greatest price to marry a woman, gave his all and provided for the woman to be his wife. The man has even left his own family just to be with his wife and now as they go out in the world, the woman is ashamed of being associated or seen with that husband. That kind of woman is contemptible, not worth any value. The same thing Christ, our Bridegroom paid the greatest price for our redemption, that He left His glory in Heaven and gave up His all to redeem us. If you are ashamed of Him, that is contemptible, but I pray that will not happen to you. Why are people ashamed? “Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (John 12:42-43). If this is you, repent. You will not love the praise of men more than God. People are ashamed because they are not willing to suffer for Christ (2 Timothy 2:12). You will not deny the Lord in your place of work, extended family and amidst church goers, but you will stand uncompromising for the Lord.
(ii) Corrupted Compromisers Ashamed of His Word – Luke 9:26; Matthew 24:35; 2 Corinthians 2:17. The words of Jesus Christ are greater and higher than any other word you can hear, and only them can take us to Heaven. “For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels” (Luke 9:26). You will not be ashamed of the words of the Lord in Jesus Name. “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35). The words Christ spoke on righteousness, being born again, that word is still abiding today, and we will not be ashamed of His words in Jesus Name. We will not corrupt the word of God in Jesus Name (2 Corinthians 2:17).
(iii) Consecrated Conquerors Unashamed in Their Witness – Mark 8:38; Acts 5:41; Romans 1:16; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 12:2-3; 1 Peter 4:12-16; 1 John 2:28; Hebrews 2:11. Standing on the words of Christ, Name of Christ, in times of persecution, rejection, you will not ashamed. The grace of God and the power of the Holy Ghost will see you through and your conviction will stand firm till the very end in Jesus Name. “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name” (Acts 5:41). The same salvation they had is the same salvation that we have and if they were rejoicing even though they were shamefully treated, we too will rejoice in times of our persecutions and trials and stand firm. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). The gospel of Christ is the power of God in our lives, and we will not be ashamed of this gospel. Have you ever suffered for the gospel? Have you suffered rejection or persecution for the sake of Christ? Or are you are methodically practising your Christian faith so that you will not offend any sinner so that they will not reproach or persecute you? Smile at your storms, belittle that shame, laugh at that shame, and show that you are happy that you are suffering for Christ, and don’t cry nor regret that you are a Christian. Just be like the children of Israel in Egypt, the more they oppressed them the stronger they became, and for you, the more the world persecutes you, the stronger you will become. “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified” (1 Peter 4:14). From today you will not be ashamed even if your stand brings persecution, oppositions, criticisms, you will rejoice in the Lord. “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming” (1 John 2:28). You will abide in Him. Christ is coming for those who are saved, sanctified, consecrated, unashamed, and standing on their convictions on the word of God, and when He comes He will not be ashamed of you. “For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren” (Hebrews 2:11). They are one soul, in one spirit and in one word with Christ. When He comes, He will not be ashamed of you, and you will not ashamed of Him too in the church and in the world, they will know what you stand for: I am a Bible Believer!
Ponder on this! The reason Christ suffered is to save us, and to leave an example for us to follow. Following the Lord sometimes will contradict what your relatives want because they may not have the full knowledge of the calling of the Lord upon your life. And when there is a decision to choose between Christ and our relations, we are to choose to follow Christ. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
Ponder on this! To deny self entails that you say ’NO’ to self. Self wants you to do things that will get you into sin, you say, No. Self wants you to act in a particular way that will show the nature of Satan and evil, you say, no. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
Ponder on this! Christ is coming for those who are saved, sanctified, consecrated, unashamed, and standing on their convictions on the word of God, and when He comes He will not be ashamed of you. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
Hard Sayings – Don’t throw away your most precious soul on the rubbish heap of the world. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
Reflection – Jesus endured the cross for our salvation and eternal life. If He endured for you, then you will endure your own cross for Him as well. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
Words on the Marble – Grace, faith and prayer can endure anything and carry any load. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
Key Words – The possession of the whole world if it were possible will not compensate for the loss of your soul. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
Compelling Charge – As you have been zealous in time past running after money and riches of this world, turn that zeal around and run after your soul salvation and soul winning, and pursue after the things of God. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
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