By MICHAEL T. GJEFLE
Faith Independent Baptist Church, Ontario
Matthew 16:26 — “For what is a man profited, if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul … ?” The Lord Jesus Christ said this to Peter as He was instructing him and others about right priorities in this life. Like it or not, life has some losses. Very few, if any, athletes do not at some time in competition feel the pain of losing in their sport. If you ever read Olympic wrestler Ben Peterson’s book, “Road to Gold,” there he has a chapter on their college wrestling days when Dan Gable, who had never lost, lost a college wrestling match. Painful as it was to Gable and his team to face that loss, they did, and then continued on. Life has some wins and losses. Yet to lose your soul and to be lost for all eternity is life’s greatest tragedy. All of us have an eternal soul that will live in God’s Heaven or in a lost eternity. Have you thought about that lately?
It is no secret that we all will die … that means you and me. Amid life’s gains and losses, are you thankful for what you have or don’t have? Learn to cultivate thankfulness in your life daily. Appreciate what you have and don’t have. Health can be here today and gone tomorrow easily. II Corinthians 8:9 — “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.”
As we celebrate Easter, grasp why the Lord Jesus came, died, and rose again from the grave. Luke 19:10 — “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Jesus Christ said these words to Zacchaeus after Zacchaeus grasped the riches found only in the Lord Jesus Christ. Have you grasped that truth for yourself?