
Mark 8:34-38 – “And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 35 “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? 37 “For what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” NASB
I have read and preached out of this passage on numerous occasions. Recently a conversation with a person who was a ‘self-described liberal theologian.’ This subject became the focus of our discussion. As we discussed the existence of God and the Cross, I referenced this passage as he argued that ‘everyone would go to heaven’ and that a loving God could not send anyone to hell that would be out of character for God.’
I have encountered that argument before in different forms, and each time I think that with the provision that God has made for us to have salvation, our rejection of it is almost incomprehensible.
There are other potential passages to consider, but I asked this man who acknowledged that humans have an eternal soul: “What is your soul worth? What value would you place on it?” He paused and said, “I don’t know, a lot, I would think.”
At that point, I brought this passage into our conversation, drawing attention to God’s valuation of the human soul. God said it was worth ‘more than the entire world,’ but even then, that is not fully descriptive of the value God places on it, for if you consider the Cross, you realize that the Father valued the human soul ‘worth the blood of Jesus.’
That, to me, is almost beyond comprehension or imagination that God would place such a value on mankind. We are His creation, but that is an incredible value to place on man who turned his back on God and, in the Garden, voted with the devil to remove God from being the center of His universe and enthrone man on that throne.
Therefore, if you think you have ‘done too much’ as I did when the Holy Spirit brought my heart into conviction regarding my sin and my condition, think about the valuation God placed on your soul. If you feel you have no significance or value, consider the Cross and God’s valuation of your soul. If you believe that God does not care about you because of your condition, plight, or social or economic status, I challenge you to consider the valuation He has placed on your soul. According to God, your value is The Blood of Jesus and more than the Entire World!
Therefore, instead of allowing yourself to focus on what you do not have, focus on what He has offered! Instead of allowing the devil to turn all your thoughts inward and revel in self-pity or let a woe-is-me attitude prevail, consider what God has provided via the Cross. You, according to the Bible, are worth the blood of Jesus! If God loves you that much, how can you not turn to Him?
May God be with you as you go through your day!