25 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?
There is no earthly commodity existing that would equate as a fair exchange for the soul of a man. Luke tells us to take heed from the lessons of Scripture:32 Remember Lot's wife! 33 Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. Luke 17:32-33 (NIV)
The Bible Knowledge Commentary expounds on the above verse: “In the same way the materialistic, indifferent people of Sodom (eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building) were not prepared for God’s judgment (Gen. 19). They were living in sin, oblivious to God. Therefore they were destroyed. Jesus reminded His followers that people should not be attached to their material things at the time of the coming of the kingdom for they, like Lot’s wife, will be judged accordingly.” Interestingly, Lot’s wife looked back longingly for what she was leaving behind to escape God’s judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah. Much like the Israelites who longed for the leeks of Egypt, those who long for the things of this world are doing so at a very high price indeed. I must interject here that there is a vast difference between enjoying what God’s hand allows in a life in comparison to having a death grip on it and living for it – that crosses the line into idolatry – every time. Let’s consider for a minute what is going to happen to this world and everything in it according to Scripture:7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 2 Peter 3:7 (NIV) 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 2 Peter 3:10 (NIV) 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. 2 Peter 3:11-13 (NIV)
Peter comes to a very logical conclusion. Do we live for the temporal or the eternal? How very shortsighted of us to not consider carefully what he is telling us here. We each have one life to live and one life that we must give an account for. If we are not impacting our world for Jesus, we are simply wasting our time. The writer of Hebrews tells us: 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Heb 4:12-13 (NIV)
Paul also tells us in 2 Corinthians: 6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 We live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 2 Cor 5:6-10 (NIV)
What sustained Paul was his realization of his temporary and transitory state – that should be a clue for us too! Our focus, like Paul’s, should be on future conditions not present, on unseen and not seen. This is living by faith and not by sight, for the ultimate rather than the immediate realities. Our motivation lies in our pleasing our Lord as we will be evaluated by our Master. Paul sought a “Well done my good and faithful servant” as should we. God is looking for whole-hearted devotion and a willing mind from His people. His desire is for us to walk in a manner worthy of His gospel and to please Him in everything that we say and do and think; this, of course, being for our ultimate good and His glory. “Commit to Me your sanctification. Bring your thoughts into captivity and let your mind be under the control of the Mind of Christ.” Frances J. Roberts “Behold, I say to you, This is the way. Walk in it. I am the Way. Walk in Me. I am the truth. Believe Me (trust in Me). I am the Life. Live in Me, and share My life with others. For you know not what I do now, but you will know hereafter. (Now we see in a glass darkly, but then, face-to-face. Now our grasp of the ways of God is incomplete, but as we move on, we come to understand what He has been endeavoring to do in our lives.) Rejoice. Rejoice not so much in victories as in the fact that I am leading. Praise Me. Not so much for My blessing as for My love that prompts them. Serve Me with gladness, not for the ultimate nor present reward, but for the thrill of knowing that we labor together; that I stand beside you in every enterprise, however trivial.” Frances J. Roberts