Have you ever thought about this question, found in Matthew 26:26? I doubt that anyone thinks about exchanging his or her soul for the pleasures of sin. Yet every time we sin, we have exchanged our soul for some temporary fulfillment of some physical desire.

Preceding this question, Jesus had asked the disciples, “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” Their response was that some thought He was John the Baptizer, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets. Jesus pressed the point by asking, “But whom do you say that I am?” Peter was the one that answered Him. He said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus blessed Peter and made a promise to build His church on the confession Peter had just made. He gave Peter and the rest of the disciples instructions that they were to tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.

From that point on, Jesus began to show the disciples things that would happen to Him. He told them that He would go into Jerusalem, that He would suffer at the hands of the religious leaders, that He would be killed, and be raised again the third day (Matthew 16:21).

Peter actually rebuked the Lord for saying these things. Jesus had to come down hard on Peter, accusing him of standing in His way and acting as a stumbling block.

Jesus used this opportunity to speak to all of His disciples to give them some specific things they would need to do. Here are His instructions for someone who wants to be part of Him.

1. “Let him deny himself.” One must follow Jesus of his own free will in order to be considered His disciple. He must deny anything that might interfere with his being faithful to the Lord.
2. “Take up his cross.” To follow Jesus, one must understand that he will suffer some persecution for being a faithful believer. One must be eager to endure whatever comes, knowing there will be a reward in heaven for those who do.
3. “Follow me.” To be pleasing to God, one must be active in following Jesus. Jesus continues by saying, “Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 16:24). If our physical life is more important than our spiritual life, we will lose all in the end.

Jesus followed these instructions for eternal life with a question. He said, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” (Verse 26).

Now we come to our question. What will you or I do or say in exchange for an eternity in heaven with God? Would we give our bodies in sin? Would we cheat or steal? Would we participate in immoral activities, would we gossip, lie, or participate in idol worship?

All the riches, honors, and pleasures that we can find cannot possibly be worth giving up eternal life in heaven. Jesus said in verse 27, “He shall reward every man according to his works.” What we say and do will determine our reward or punishment when the Lord comes again.

So, what will you give in exchange for your soul?

Sandra Oliver