WE MUST HAVE CHRIST JESUS

"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 8:36, 37 [KJV]

Hast thou heard the voice of thy Beloved? art thou a willing disciple of a despised Master? But does the flesh shrink from, murmur and reason against taking up the cross daily, "and suffering the loss of all things?" Listen, O soul, to the reasonings of WISDOM. Though the followers of the Lamb are counted fools and madmen, yet their dear Master here teaches them such reasoning and argument, drawn from the nature and fitness of things, as will in a dying hour, and at the judgment-day, silence the tongue of every adversary. Ever use thy Master's weapon. 

Reason daily, O, Christian, upon thy spiritual gain, by the knowledge of Jesus. Study to look with contempt upon thy trifling worldly loss. What is all the wisdom of this world but folly? the righteousness of the whole world, but filthy rags? the hopes of a fallen world, but miserable delusion? the pleasures of a gay world, but vanity? the riches of the world, but deceitfulness? the honors of the world, but an empty sound? All these, though possessed and enjoyed, cannot profit the soul. Nay, rather like Job's friends, they often only prove miserable comforters, distress the mind, but can never bring comfort to the soul. 

Though often set by the enemy before our eyes in the most conspicuous view and advantageous light, as Satan tempted our Lord; yet, is there any comparison between an eternal gain and a temporal loss? Verily, one moment's communion with Jesus by faith, infinitely transcends a whole life of threescore years and ten, spent in all the glory and happiness this whole world can yield. O, this one word, "thou fool, this hour thy soul is required of thee," is a death stroke to all worldly enjoyments. What then can be placed in competition with an "exceeding and an eternal weight of glory?" How great is the worth of the soul! it is immortal. How rich the love of God! it is everlasting. How transcendent the love of Jesus! it passeth knowledge. 

How amazing the grace of the Holy Ghost! it proceeds from both. It is through His power any poor sinner is able to say, "What things were gain to me, those I count loss for Christ. 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 count them dung, that I may win Christ and be found in Him," etc.—Philippians 3:7, 8, 9.

When I survey the wond'rous cross 

On which the Prince of glory dy'd, 

My richest gain I count but loss, 

And pour contempt on all beside.

Were the whole realm of nature mine, 

That were a present far too small; 

Love so amazing, so divine, 

Demands my soul, my life, my all.

 

-preacher William Mason (1724-1797 A.D.)