Gain the World and Lose Your Soul

In today’s western civilization the goal is to achieve power and wealth and control. The American dream is to get wealth and flaunt it.  But what is the eternal cost to gain the world and lose your soul.

Money is Power

Let’s examine that prospect from a Biblical standpoint

What is the profit?

Mark 8:36 (KJV)


The quote above is one that Jesus made when He was defining who He was and why He was here.

In today’s world, one’s worth is determined by how much money he or she has.  That thought stands in contrast to what Jesus stated above. Is there anything of value in this world that can compare with a person’s eternal spirit?  Yes, I said, “Eternal”. That means it will never end. Forever and ever it will exist. It is that part of every human being that was created in the image of the Creator.

There is coming a day when we shall be held accountable for our bearing of that image.  The creation as we know it will be suspended. In Revelation 10:6 it is stated as such; there should be time no more.  We are creatures of time, but then we shall be free from the constraints of time.

Revelation 10:5-6 (KJV)



In that realm, the things that we consider so valuable, money, fame, power; will be worthless.  As we stand naked before our Creator, what will our plea be?



Hebrews 9:27 (KJV)


In Hebrews 9 we see the progression of the life of humans.  Evolutionists say that when you die, that is it. The Creator says that when you die you must then face judgment.

Now, you can believe the evolutionists if you wish.  If they are wrong(logically they are), you have gambled your eternal existence and lost.  You will spend eternity(eternity never ends) in agony and suffering for a few years of fame or pleasure.  That is like stopping to pick up a nugget of gold and being overtaken by a volcanic lava flow. Was the nugget worth it?  Imagine the agony.  

In the physical realm, the agony would cease.  In the spiritual realm, it will never cease. Is it worth it?

In the world today we see people gaining fame and money through many different means.  It may be sports or politics or business or even worthy causes. But, even if gained in a good cause, contrast it to the words of Jesus.

“What does it profit, even if you gain the whole world?”  The answer is obvious. There is nothing in or of this world that will be of profit in the age to come.

This age is “of the flesh”.  We deal with material things in this existence.  All of these were originally created good. But Adam sinned and took the whole creation with him.  Because of that original sin, we are all born into sin. That is why after once dying we must all face the judgment.


It is not that we are all born “bad” but that we are descendants of a “sinner”, Adam.  You had no choice, but that is beside the point. You are part of his family.

Adam broke the covenant with the Creator by doing the one act that would exhibit his rebellion.  He ate of the forbidden tree. Since we are all descended from Adam, we are members of a rebellious race.  Jesus makes this clear in John chapter 3.

John 3:17-18 (KJV)



This passage follows probably the most quoted verse in the whole Bible.  Yes, God loves everybody. But God does not force you to love Him or believe Him.  He created you a free moral agent with the ability to choose your own direction. Without choice, there is no love.

The phrase “he that believeth not is condemned already”, indicates one’s pre-existing state.  In other words, don’t make a choice and you remain condemned. God desires your love. True love cannot be coerced.  You choose to love God or you can remain condemned.


Back to the passage in Hebrews.  When you die you will face judgment.  God does not arbitrarily condemn anyone.  He is just and true in every respect of those words.  He will present his case and will allow you to present your case.  But in the end, you will agree with Him that you deserve an eternity in hell.

Why will you agree with Him?  God knew that no human could measure up to what was required to spend eternity with Him.  So, He provided a Second, or Last, Adam. This Adam lived a life in perfect submission to the will of God.  He was God incarnate(in human flesh). He was subject to all the same temptations that the first Adam and you and I face.  Yet, He chose to be obedient to God.

God’s Great Love

The price is paid

But then, something amazing happened.  He, though He was perfect, offered to suffer the judgment for sinners, all sinners.  He was judged and suffered the punishment for all who would ever live or have lived on the earth.  “How could He do that?”, you ask. He could do it because He was the “only(uniquely) begotten Son of God”.  He was the infinite God incarnate in the flesh. God, yet man. Fully God and fully human.

How He paid the price for all human beings, I do not fully understand.  But, according to God’s word, He did.

How it hurt God the Father, I can not know fully.  But He did it out of His great love for His ultimate creation, mankind.

If you choose to reject this great love, you spit in the face of a just Creator.  He loved you so much that He paid the price fully.

The Standard – Perfection

Because we live in a fallen world we have no idea of what true perfection is.  When we stand before the Creator of all things, we shall know what perfection is.  We shall abhor our own being because of our ugly sinfulness. God’s just judgment will not draw an objection from us.  We will acknowledge that we deserve an eternity in hell.


You may wish to raise an objection.  You may think that you never heard that before.  (Well, you are hearing it now). But suppose someone thought they had never heard it.  Will they have an excuse? Look at this passage from Romans chapter 1.

Romans 1:19-25 (KJV)




22  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,





The scripture clearly states that there is enough evidence in creation to show there is a Creator.  But, that spirit of rebellion which was manifested in Adam is still within our makeup.

It takes something of great power to overcome that spirit.  But, our Creator has made that power available to us.

Hebrews 4:12 (KJV)


This Word is the most powerful force in all of creation.  It brought about this creation and it sustains it. This word is able to create a new being in me and in you and to whosoever will.  It is so powerful that the Redeemer was defined as the “Word”.

Final Exam – The Cost

So, as you set your course in this world, consider the ultimate outcome.  When you stand before your Creator will you find yourself wanting? Will your attempt to gain the world cause you to lose your soul?

Jesus concluded His statement from Mark 8 with this:

Mark 8:37 (KJV)


How can you gain this right standing with the Creator so you can spend eternity with Him?  The answer: It will cost you your life.  

There is nothing in this life that compares with the glorious life that God has promised us in Christ.

In 2 Corinthians 5:17 it says:


This “new” speaks of a glorious life that nothing in this creation can compare with.

If you desire the worry and uncertainty and pains of this existence, struggle on.  But, if you desire hope and joy and victory in your struggles, turn to Jesus. Jesus said, “I have come that you might have life, and have it abundantly.”


May God bless you and fill you with Himself.  AMEN AND AMEN!


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