It is once again time for the weekend sermon. I hope and pray that everyone is having a very good week.
As I am sure you know, we are in a study where we are going chapter by chapter verse by verse through the Gospel of Mark. Right now, we are studying chapter 8, and we have been in this chapter for quite some time because there is so much for us to learn from the Lord Jesus in this chapter.
In our message today, I want us to focus our attention on what the Lord had to say about "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world yet loses his own soul." Jesus will go on to ask what could a person ever give in exchange for his soul.
This statement of Jesus boils down to what do people think is really important. We have so many people in this world who are only pursuing the things that pass away. They spend all of their time trying to accumulate wealth and possessions, and they don't care what moral or ethical laws they violate in order to do it. They walk over people and use and abuse people just to get what they want. In their minds, there is only the here and now and what they can obtain for their own comfort and gratification. They are in the process of forfeiting their own souls for earthly riches.
Jesus is saying that if a person could even gain everything in the whole world it was not worth it if it meant that a person would forfeit their soul. In other words, Jesus was saying you could become fabulously rich and famous, but if you end up separated from God in hell for all eternity, what good has it done for you.
People don't have the right perspective on eternity. The here and now in which we live is like one grain of sand on the beach. It is nothing compared to the entire beach that represents eternity. We get caught up in the right now and don't have an eternal perspective.
In another passage, Jesus put it this way. We need to lay up treasure in heaven where moth and rust don't corrupt and where thieves do not break in and steal. We should not lay up treasure on earth where things do become corrupted and can be lost or taken from us.
I want you to know this. All the money and fame and fortune in the world won't matter one bit when you stand before the Lord on judgement day. He will look to see if you have accepted Him as the Lord and Savior of your life. He will look to see if your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life. If you have not turned your life over to Christ and your name is not written in the book, all the money and things in this world won't stop you from being cast away from God's presence for all eternity.
Thanks be to God, no one has to go to hell or be separated from the Lord. Jesus invites anyone and everyone to turn to Him and receive forgiveness and pardon today. That includes you. I hope that you will put your faith and trust in the finished work of Christ on the cross today. Amen.
Prayer Requests
Please keep praying in regard to my health. I am going to see a new doctor next week. Also, keep praying about my job situation.
Remember to keep praying for an end to the Ebola outbreak in Africa. Pray that those who are sick will make a full recovery.
Keep praying for peace. Ukraine, the Middle East, and Sudan all are in need of our prayers.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those who live in the nations of Myanmar and Malaysia. Pray that many will come to know the Lord Jesus.
Next week, we will continue in Mark finishing up chapter 8. I will post the verses on Tuesday. May God bless you all.
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