Jesus said For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:26). In Matthew nineteen we read of a rich young ruler who came to Jesus and inquired as to what he must to do have eternal life. Ultimately this man was told by Jesus to sell all that he had and give it to the poor, follow Jesus and he would have eternal life. That which hindered the young man was his love for material things. He ended up trading his immortal soul for money and possessions. This was a bad deal indeed!

We know that anything worth having will cost us something. Paul realized this very keenly. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, (Philippians 3:8). Nothing on this earth may compare to what awaits us in heaven. Sadly, many Christians have not learned this and like the rich young ruler are making a bad deal, a fatal deal.

What does this world offer? If I am going to trade my never-dying soul for the things of the world I might as well know what I'm getting. First, I'm getting something that will never satisfy. He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. (Ecclesiastes 5:10). Second, I'm getting something that is temporary and transient. All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled. (Ecclesiastes 6:7). For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: (1 Peter 1:24). And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1 John 2:17). Here are things that will not satisfy and will not last yet I am willing to trade my soul for them? Madness!

Satan is the original “snake oil salesman”. He offers a cure-all in slick packaging. He makes false promises and claims. He deals fast and loose with the facts, twisting them for his own purposes. It all looks good and sounds great but when all is said and done we are left hungry, hopeless and helpless. Standing before God in judgment, were we able to offer the Judge of the universe all of the material gain of the whole world, we could not exchange it for our immortal soul.

Jesus, on the other hand, offers us the bread and the water of life. He offers that which satisfies the longing soul. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:14). The choice is clear.Whom will you choose?