WHOEVER WILL LOSE HIS LIFE FOR MY SAKE, SHALL FIND IT
BIBLE TEXT
MATTHEW 16:21-25
21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
MESSAGE
To lose something simply means to misplace it. In another word, it implies to deliberately throw it away or to dispose it. From the above scriptures, Jesus is speaking about those that lose their soul intentionally.
Where Jesus uttered this statement, He had talked about his suffering and crucification. Peter replied Him that such will not be His fate, but Jesus rebuked him, by saying get behind me Satan, for you are carnally minded. Why did Jesus rebuke Peter and not looking at Peter as someone who cared for Him?. Jesus rebuked him because for Him (Jesus) to be glorified, He must first lay down His life on the cross. Jesus later turned to other disciples, and told them that anyone that keeps his life will lose, but he who loses it because of Him will find it and will enjoy eternal life with him in heaven.
Those that will enjoy everlasting life must first lose their souls. To lose your soul is to find it. It is either you lose your soul here on earth, and find it in heaven or you keep it here on earth and lose it in heaven.
Jesus calling Peter Satan is one of the greatest reproach to anyone. This is because Peter wanted to discourage Jesus from laying down his life and thereby losing his eternal glory and honour in heaven.
Many people want to keep their soul here and still find it in heaven. This can’t be possible. To be a friend of God mean you have turned your back to the world. The greatest blessing is losing your soul here on earth and find it in heaven. It is a mistake for you to keep your soul here on earth because you have limited time here.
How are we going to lose our soul here?
- FAILURE TO BOW TO THE PATTERN AND SYSTEM OF THIS WORLD: The challenges we are going to face by doing this is a pointer that we are losing our life. Losing our lives don’t mean that we will be literally killed or hurt ourselves. The problem we are going to face by not abiding and bowing for the standard and pattern of the world. Aligning yourself with the word and commandment of God is the true idea of losing your soul. The idea is discomforting and denying yourself of some selfish and worldly desires which is against the precept of the gospel.
According to Matt 13:9-14, the priests have been using their offices to dupe people, but when Jesus came, and started performing miracles, they waged war against him. The priests and Pharisees hated him and planned to kill him. They did this because Jesus did not conform to their pattern.
When we failed to conform to the norms and standard of the world, we will be cheated, mocked and persecuted.
If you decided not to pass through some pains, displeasures, persecution and cheating, you are keeping your soul.
Jesus in the aforementioned scriptures did not mind losing his respect and honour from the priest and his followers, as far as he did not lose it before God. Many Christian’s are so much conscious of their fame, dignity, honour and money and thereby keeping their souls at the expense of their lives.
- THE PROBLEM WE ARE GOING TO HAVE BY ENDURANCE: When Bible is talking about the endurance of disciples in the Hebrews chapter 11, it stated that those that do these things borne a city in mind. Why are you comparing yourself to those that have nowhere to go. You that are fasting, paying tithe and offering, and praying for a place, you shouldn’t compare yourself to those that do not have anything apart from this world in view.
In Phil 2: 5-6 Bible mentioned that Jesus left his honour, Power and greatness to come to the earth to be reproached and humiliated. Jesus endured these pains and was later glorified. Peradventure Jesus didn’t endure the pain, he wouldn’t have been glorified.
Matthew 27:29-31, How many years of suffering have you endured that made you to lose your faith and righteousness? The main reason why Christ was exalted and glorified was he had endure all his challenges. - THE PROBLEM OF PAYING THE PRICE:
If we will enjoy eternity with Jesus, we must pay the price. paying the Price is losing your soul. Do not deceive yourself. Matthew 16:21-23. Jesus had already taught His disciples that He must endure the reproach for Him to be glorified. He claimed that there is a cup that he must not but drink. There are time devil will shake us, deny us of some position, reproach and hate us because of Christ. Sometimes, God will hinder him (Devil), while He (God) will not hinder him in some cases because it is a to pay price. He is doing this for us to turn away from Jesus Christ. To find your soul in heaven, something like this must happen. There are some things that others will enjoy and you will be denied of because of eternity. We must not compare ourselves with them.
We should know that, you can’t eat your cake and have it. It is you that you have eternity in view. In some occasion, you will be denied of deserved position, you must endure it because the people of the world don’t have anywhere to go. You can’t save your soul and still have it.
