“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. For 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 8:35-37 KJV
You know, I’ve heard this verse my entire life. But I don’t think I ever understood it. I’ve heard it in the context that we gain all of the material goods that the world has to offer: the fame, the fortune… in exchange for our souls. We think that will give us happiness, if only we can be happy, even if only for a short time, while on this earth.
Recently, I realized that what this world has to offer is pain, suffering, hurt. If we decide to trade our souls to gain the world, this is all that we will gain.
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23 KJV
We’ve seen celebrities to laymen who seemingly had it all to those on the streets, complete suicides, endure debilitating depression and anxiety disorders, fight battles with substance abuse… These, the exchanges for gaining the world, yet losing their souls in the process.
We’ve heard some say, If heaven had a telephone… But I wonder… If hell had a telephone… What would those who lost that battle say? What would those who exchanged their souls for the world, warn?
It’s not about the fame and the fortune.. Those are temporary gains. Behind that, the gain often comes the depression, anxiety, worries, substance abuse, suicide attempts – that people are beginning to discuss more and more these days.
But there is a solution. Jesus is the answer.
*Original image courtesy of Yours Truly ☀️🤍🌺
On the Outside Looking In 