TOPIC: MAKE GOD FIRST FOR ENDURING TERRESTERIAL GLORY.
Bible Reading: Numbers 26-27; Mark: 8:22-38
“For what shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul” Mark 8:36 (KJV)
The true impact of the above focal scriptural verse is better understood by a God fearing mind and one who is properly guided by the word of God. There are several ways of gaining the world. We can gain the world through fame, power, acquisition, riches and wealth. Men pursue these aggressively in their ambition to excel and consequently receive accolades of men. It is the world recognition and fame that gave birth to the World Guinness Book of records. When a man has achieved such fame, he is said to have gained the recognition of the whole wide world.
When ambition is pursued vigorously disregarding the Almighty God it consequently leads to the loss of one soul. When we are basking at the euphoria of one’s achievement and the accompanying accolades, the thought of giving glory to God is lost in the heart of a carnal mind. Men become boastful and proud of their achievement to the extent that they do not consider the God factor and destination of their soul. They seek solace in the saying that there is no life after death. They gained the whole world through their fame, power and wealth they have acquired without considering the wellbeing of their soul and the inner man. They allowed the carnal driven ambition rule their life. Most time at the tail end of life the true reality dawn on them that all they have acquired is vanity. If they have taken time to evaluate the circle of activities on earth with scriptural insight they would have agreed with the Psalmist in Psalm 144:4 (KJV), “Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away. ” This is a statement of reality that is incontestable. A thorough study of the book of Ecclesiastes will drum home to any discerning mind the impact and trueness of this statement of Christ. The Preacher, King Solomon the wise, stated in Ecclesiastes 1:14(KJV), “I have seen all the works that are done under the the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit” He went further to declare in Ecclesiastes 2:11(AMP), “Then I consider all which my hands had done and labored to do, and behold, all was vanity and chasing after the wind and there was no profit (nothing of lasting value) under the sun”
The Lord said in Matthew 6:33 (KJV), “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. ” When we bring God into our ambition and pursuit in life by making Him first, He properly orders our step to labour in righteousness to acquire wealth and inherit everlasting life. The bible says in Romans 6:22 (KJV), “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruits unto holiness and the end everlasting life. ” When we reside in the bosom of Christ and pursue our earthly ambition we will produce holy fruits, that is wealth and fame acquired in righteousness with an ultimate end of inheriting eternal life. Fame, wealth and riches acquired without Christ satisfies only the flesh and put the spirit and the soul in danger of eternal damnation. However, fame, wealth and riches acquired under God, transcend the earthly realm to eternity the abode of the spirit and soul. With the coming of Christ for the redemption of man, He accomplished all by providing us all that pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). In the redemption work of Christ our triumphant living and translation was accomplished (Colossians 1:13).
Dear reader, I beseech you, therefore, to seek God first in all your life pursuit by accepting Jesus Christ into your life in order to gain eternal victory.
Prayer: Father, order my step in life so that I will gain my soul and inherit everlasting life.
Pastor. Joel Ezeugo