Dr. Adrian Rogers: AND I WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO THIS QUESTION BECAUSE THIS QUESTION COMES LIKE A JAVELIN FROM THE HEART OF GOD INTO YOUR HEART. LISTEN TO IT, LISTEN TO THIS QUESTION, “FOR WHAT SHALL IT PROFIT A MAN IF HE SHALL GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD AND LOSE HIS OWN SOUL? NOW AGAIN I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT THERE IS WITHIN YOU, THE REAL YOU, WHICH IS THE SOUL.

Announcer: PROFOUND TRUTH. SIMPLY STATED. THIS IS LOVE WORTH FINDING WITH PASTOR, TEACHER, AND AUTHOR, ADRIAN ROGERS. Dr. Adrian: I WANT YOU TO TURN TO A FAMILIAR PASSAGE, MARK 8, AND WE’RE GOING TO BEGIN READING IN VERSE 34. AND AS YOU’RE FINDING IT, LET ME TELL YOU THAT YOU DO NOT MERELY HAVE A SOUL, YOU ARE A SOUL.

AND YOUR SOUL IS OF INFINITE WORTH. YOUR SOUL IS WORTH MORE THAN ALL OF THE POSSESSIONS AND PLEASURES OF THIS WORLD PUT TOGETHER. YOUR SOUL, MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, WILL NEVER EVER CEASE TO EXIST. YOUR SOUL COULD NO MORE CEASE TO EXIST THAN GOD HIMSELF COULD CEASE TO EXIST. YOUR SOUL WILL GO ON AND ON AND ON THROUGH ETERNITY, TIMELESS, DATELESS, MEASURELESS.

YOUR SOUL MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD WILL EXIST FOREVER. YOUR SOUL LIVES IN A HOUSE CALLED A BODY. YOU ARE A SOUL. YOU HAVE A BODY. YOUR SOUL WILL EXIST FOREVER, EITHER IN HEAVEN OR IN HELL. IT WILL NEVER CEASE TO EXIST. NOW, LISTEN TO GOD’S WORD HERE, VERSE 34, “AND WHEN HE HAD CALLED THE PEOPLE UNTO HIM WITH HIS DISCIPLES ALSO HE SAID UNTO THEM, ‘WHOSOEVER WILL COME AFTER ME, LET HIM DENY HIMSELF AND TAKE UP HIS CROSS AND FOLLOW ME.

FOR WHOSOEVER WILL SAVE HIS LIFE SHALL LOSE IT. BUT WHOSOEVER WILL LOSE HIS LIFE, FOR MY SAKE AND THE GOSPEL’S,'” AND THE WORD GOSPEL MEANS GOOD NEWS, “‘THE SAME SHALL SAVE IT.'” AND THEN, JESUS ASKS A VERY PERTINENT, A VERY PRESSING QUESTION. AND I WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO THIS QUESTION BECAUSE THIS QUESTION COMES LIKE A JAVELIN FROM THE HEART OF GOD INTO YOUR HEART.

LISTEN TO IT, LISTEN TO THIS QUESTION, “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? WHOSOEVER THEREFORE SHALL BE ASHAMED OF ME AND OF MY WORDS IN THIS ADULTEROUS AND SINFUL GENERATION, OF HIM ALSO SHALL THE SON OF MAN BE ASHAMED WHEN HE COMETH IN THE GLORY OF THE FATHER WITH HIS HOLY ANGELS.

” NOW, AGAIN I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT THERE IS WITHIN YOU, THE REAL YOU, WHICH IS THE SOUL. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT YOU TO THINK OF THE TREMENDOUS WORTH OF A SOUL. JUST HOW VALUABLE IS A SOUL? HOW VALUABLE IS YOUR SOUL? WELL, THAT BRINGS THIS QUESTION, WHAT MAKES ANYTHING VALUABLE ANYWAY? MAY I SUGGEST SOME THINGS THAT MAKE ANY OBJECTION OR ANYTHING VALUABLE? FIRST OF ALL IS CREATIVITY.

YOU SEE, IF A THING IS FORMED WITH INCREDIBLE CREATIVITY, THAT MAKES IT VALUABLE. A PAINTING BY PICASSO OR MICHELANGELO, A CREATIVE ARTIST, WOULD HAVE INCREDIBLE VALUABLE BECAUSE OF THE CREATIVITY BEHIND THAT THING. NOW, WHO CREATED THE HUMAN SOUL? GENESIS 2:7 SAYS THIS, “AND GOD FORMED MAN OF THE DUST OF THE GROUND AND BREATHED INTO HIS NOSTRILS THE BREATHE OF LIFE AND MAN BECAME A LIVING SOUL.

” GOD DID THAT. GOD FORMED YOU OF THE DUST OF THE GROUND. GOD BREATHED INTO YOU HIS SPIRIT, THE BREATHE OF LIFE AND THEN YOU BECAME WHAT THE BIBLE CALLS, “A LIVING SOUL.” YOU ARE THE HANDIWORK OF ALMIGHTY GOD. AND IF A PAINTING BY RAPHAEL WOULD BE VALUABLE, HOW MUCH MORE IS THE HUMAN SOUL? CREATIVITY.

I’LL TELL YOU SOMETHING ELSE THAT MAKES SOMETHING VALUABLE, NOT ONLY CREATIVITY, BUT POTENTIALITY. NOT ONLY FOR WHAT A THING IS, BUT FOR WHAT A THING MAY BECOME. DO YOU REALIZE THE INCREDIBLE POTENTIALITY IN YOU? THEORETICALLY, THERE’RE THREE IN THE SEAT THAT YOU OCCUPY RIGHT NOW. THE PERSON YOU ARE AT THIS MOMENT, THE PERSON YOU COULD BE FOR EVIL IF YOU DO NOT YIELD YOUR HEART, YOUR LIFE TO GOD.

THE DEPTH OF DEPRAVITY YOU MAY SINK INTO MAY BE BEYOND YOUR IMAGINATION, BUT OH THE PERSON YOU COULD BE. YEA, THE PERSON YOU WILL BE IF YOU WILL YIELD YOUR LIFE TO JESUS CHRIST, BECAUSE ONE DAY YOU WILL BE CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF GOD’S SON. YOU WILL BE LIKE JESUS. THE PSALMIST SAID, “I SHALL BE SATISFIED WHEN I AWAKEN IN THY LIKENESS.

” YOU CAN BE LIKE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. YOU TALK ABOUT POTENTIALITY. WHAT A CHANGE, WHAT A DIFFERENCE THAT HAS BEEN WROUGHT WHEN WE ARE MADE IN THE LIKENESS OF JESUS CHRIST. I’LL TELL YOU A THIRD THING THAT MAKES SOMETHING VALUABLE. NOT ONLY CREATIVITY, AND NOT ONLY POTENTIALITY, BUT DURABILITY, DURABILITY.

HOW LONG WOULD IT LAST? WHEN I WAS A YOUNGSTER, I WORKED AND STARTED BUYING MY OWN CLOTHES. I WENT DOWN U.S. 1 IN WEST PALM BEACH TO CLEMATIS STREET AND RATHER THAN TURNING LEFT WHERE THE FINER STORES WERE, I TURNED RIGHT TO THE LOW RENT DISTRICT. WENT IN TO A LITTLE SHOP THERE AND I SAW A PULLOVER SHIRT THAT I THOUGHT WAS JUST BEAUTIFUL AND THE PRICE WAS SO LOW.

I SAID, “BOY, I KNOW HOW TO BUY CLOTHES.” AND I BOUGHT THIS SHIRT AND BROUGHT IT HOME, WORE IT ONE TIME, MY MOTHER PUT IT IN THE WASHING MACHINE AND FOLKS THAT WAS THE END OF IT. IT WAS GONE. I MEAN, IT JUST CAME APART. IT HAD NO DURABILITY. NO WONDER IT WAS OF SUCH LOW PRICE. AGAIN, I WANT TO TELL YOU FOLKS THAT YOUR SOUL WILL NEVER END.

I WAS READING FROM THE WORD OF GOD, FROM THE BOOK OF DANIEL 12 AND LISTEN TO VERSE TWO, “AND MANY OF THEM THAT SLEEP IN THE DUST OF THE EARTH SHALL AWAKE. SOME TO EVERLASTING LIFE, AND SOME TO SHAME AND EVERLASTING CONTEMPT. AND THEY THAT BE WISE,” AND I HOPE YOU ARE, “AND THEY THAT BE WISE SHALL SHINE AS THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE FIRMAMENT AND THEY THAT TURN MANY TO RIGHTEOUSNESS AS THE STARS FOREVER AND EVER.

” EVERLASTING SHAME, EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS. DURABILITY. YOUR SOUL WILL EXIST EITHER IN HEAVEN OR IN HELL AND IT IS MY DUTY TO INFORM YOU OF THAT. YOUR SOUL IS VALUABLE BECAUSE IT WILL NEVER END. I’LL TELL YOU SOMETHING ELSE THAT MAKES A SOUL VALUABLE, OR ANY OBJECT VALUABLE, AND THAT’S RARITY. IF A THING IS RARE, IT TENDS TO BE MORE VALUABLE.

THAT’S THE REASON GOLD IS MORE VALUABLE THAN DIRT. OF COURSE, IT’S MORE BEAUTIFUL, BUT IT’S RARE. IT’S RARE. DIAMONDS ARE RARE. COLLECTOR’S THINGS, IF THEY ARE RARE, ARE VALUABLE. I READ SOMEWHERE THAT THE MOST VALUABLE AUTOGRAPH IS AN AUTOGRAPH OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS. THE MOST VALUABLE STAMP IS THE ONE CENT STAMP OF BRITISH — OF GUIANA.

THE MOST VALUABLE COIN IS THE DOLLAR, ARGENTA DOLLAR OF ATHENS. WHY ARE THESE THINGS SO VALUABLE? BECAUSE THEY’RE RARE. YOUR SOUL IS SO RARE. YOU’RE GONNA SAY, “WELL, THERE ARE PLENTY OF SOULS.” NO, YOU MISSED THE POINT. THERE IS ONLY ONE YOU. THERE IS ONLY ONE YOU. GOD NEVER MAKES DUPLICATES.

YOU ARE THE HANDIWORK, THE CRAFTING OF ALMIGHTY GOD. AND GOD HAS MADE YOU SPECIFICALLY, INDIVIDUALLY, CAREFULLY CRAFTED YOU. YOU’RE HIS POEM, YOU’RE HIS MASTERPIECE. YOU ARE RARE. THERE’S NO OTHER, NO OTHER JUST LIKE YOU. WHAT MAKES SOMETHING VALUABLE? RARITY. BUT LET ME JUST WRAP ALL THOSE UP AND I’LL TELL YOU REALLY, REALLY WHAT MAKES — WHAT MAKES YOUR SOUL VALUABLE. IT’S DESIRABILITY.

NOW, EVERY APPRAISER, WE HAVE SOME REAL ESTATE APPRAISERS HERE TODAY, EVERY APPRAISER WILL TELL YOU THIS. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOUR HOUSE IS WORTH. DON’T TELL ME HOW MUCH YOU PAID FOR IT. DON’T TELL ME THAT YOU RECENTLY HAD IT PAINTED. DON’T TELL ME ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE. I’LL TELL YOU HOW MUCH YOUR HOUSE IS WORTH.

AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT HE BASES HIS APPRAISAL ON? ONE THING; HOW MUCH SOMEONE WILL PAY FOR IT. THAT RIGHT? THAT’S REALLY THE WORTH. DOES SOMEBODY WANT IT? I MEAN, THE VALUE OF ANYTHING IS BASED ON WHAT? DESIRABILITY. WHO WANTS IT! HOW MUCH WILL HE PAY FOR IT? WELL, IF YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH YOUR SOUL IS WORTH, CLIMB UP TO HEAVEN AND PUT YOUR EAR UPON THE BEATING HEART OF GOD AND WITH EVERY BEAT IT WILL SAY, “I LOVE YOU. I WANT YOU.

I DESIRE YOU.” CLIMB DOWN TO CALVARY’S CROSS AND SEE CALVARY’S LOVE AND SEE THE BLOOD AS IT FALLS TO THE GROUND AND SEE JESUS AS HE DIES IN AGONY AND BLOOD. WHY? HE’S PAYING FOR YOUR SOUL. HE’S PAYING FOR YOUR SOUL. GO DOWN DEEPER INTO THE VERY PIT OF HELL AND SEE THE SUFFERING AND THE AGONY AND REALIZE THAT JESUS CHRIST ENDURED THE FIRES OF HELL, BAPTIZED HIS SOUL IN HELL, THAT HE MIGHT SAVE YOUR SOUL.

THEN YOU’LL KNOW HOW MUCH ONE SOUL IS WORTH. WORTH MORE THAN ALL THE WORLD. THAT’S THE VALUE OF THE SOUL. NOW, HERE’S SOMETHING ELSE I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT. NOT ONLY THE WORTH OF THE SOUL, BUT THINK OF THE WASTE OF THE SOUL. WHAT A WASTE IF YOU DON’T GIVE IT TO THE LORD. THAT’S WHAT JESUS IS SAYING, “WHAT SHOULD IT PROFIT A MAN IF HE SHOULD GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD AND LOSE HIS OWN SOUL?” NOW, IF YOU’RE A BUSINESS MAN, FOLKS, IT DOESN’T BALANCE.

YOU’RE ON THE LOST SIDE OF THE LEDGER. WHAT PITIFUL PROFIT YOU WOULD MAKE. WHY IS THAT SUCH A BAD BARGAIN? WHY, IF YOU SELL OUT THE LORD JESUS, AND YOU SAY, “I’M NOT GOING TO GIVE MY HEART TO JESUS. I LOVE THIS WORLD. I’M GOING TO LIVE FOR THIS WORLD. I”M NOT GOING TO TAKE UP ANY CROSS AND FOLLOW JESUS.

NO, SIR. I’M GOING TO SAVE MY LIFE.” JESUS SAID, “YOU’LL LOSE IT. YOU’LL LOSE IT.” WHY? I MEAN, IF, IF YOU TURN YOUR BACK ON JESUS AND SAY, “I’M GOING THE WAY OF THE WORLD. WHY IS THAT SO FOOLISH?” WELL, FIRST OF ALL FOLKS, IT IS AN IMMEASURABLE LOSS. I’VE BEEN DEALING WITH PRECIOUS PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST CHILDREN, AND WHAT A HEARTACHE THAT IS.

I’VE BEEN DEALING WITH SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST WEALTH. I’VE BEEN DEALING WITH SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST HEALTH. BUT NOTHING TO — COMPARED TO THE LOSS OF A SOUL. HAVE YOU COUNTED THE COST, IF YOUR SOUL SHOULD BE LOST? IF YOU GAINED THE WHOLE WORLD FOR YOUR STORE, HAVE YOU COUNTED THAT COST? IT IS AN IMMEASURABLE LOSS.

THERE IS NO OTHER LOSS THAT CAN COMPARE WITH THE LOSS OF THE SOUL. BUT NOT ONLY IS IT AN IMMEASURABLE LOSS, LISTEN TO ME, FOLKS, IT IS AN IRREPLACEABLE LOSS. JOYCE AND I HAVE A LITTLE BABY IN HEAVEN. WE HAVEN’T REALLY LOST HIM BECAUSE WE KNOW WHERE HE IS. BECAUSE YOU KNOW GOD GAVE US AFTER THAT LITTLE BOY WENT TO HEAVEN, GOD GAVE US ANOTHER SON.

HE’S A MISSIONARY NOW IN SPAIN. BUT YOU WILL NEVER HAVE ANOTHER SOUL. OUR CHILDREN ARE NOT LOST EVEN THOUGH THEY’VE GONE. WE’RE GOING TO THEM. BUT YOU SEE, THE LOSS OF A SOUL IS AN IRREPLACEABLE LOSS. I’LL TELL YOU SOMETHING ELSE. IT’S AN IRREVERSIBLE LOSS. DON’T GET THE IDEA THAT IF WHAT ADRIAN IS PREACHING TODAY IS TRUE, THAT ONE DAY WHEN YOU DIE AND YOU FACE GOD, YOU SAY, “WELL, I SEE IT ALL NOW.

I REALIZE THAT I WAS WRONG AND I REALIZE THAT I SHOULD HAVE REPENTED. BUT LORD, YOU’RE A GOD OF MERCY, SO GOD AS YOU — AS I STAND BEFORE YOU AT THE GREAT WHITE THRONE TO BE JUDGED I WANT YOU TO HAVE MERCY ON ME. I WANT YOU TO REVERSE WHAT I DID IN LIFE. I WANT YOU TO FORGIVE ME BECAUSE I NOW WANT MERCY.

” NO, IF YOU DIE WITHOUT JESUS CHRIST, YOU’LL NOT REVERSE THAT DECISION. THE BIBLE SAYS, “IT’S APPOINTED UNTO MAN ONCE TO DIE AND AFTER THIS, THE JUDGEMENT.” NOW, IF YOU WANT MERCY, YOU MAY HAVE IT. IF YOU WANT FORGIVENESS, YOU MAY HAVE IT. IF YOU WANT GRACE, YOU MAY HAVE IT. IF YOU WANT JESUS, YOU MAY HAVE HIM.

IF YOU WANT SALVATION, YOU MAY RECEIVE SALVATION. BUT NOW LISTEN TO ME, THERE IS NO SECOND CHANCE AFTER DEATH. THE LOSS OF A SOUL IS AN IRREVERSIBLE LOSS. NOW, WHY IS THAT? WELL, YOU MIGHT SAY, “I’LL JUST THROW MYSELF ON THE MERCY OF THE COURT.” JUST IMAGINE THAT YOU’RE STANDING THERE NOW BEFORE THE GREAT WHITE THRONE.

THE END OF TIME HAS COME AND ONE BY ONE THE NAMES ARE CALLED. ONE BY ONE THEY’RE JUDGED AND NOW YOU’RE FACE TO FACE WITH ALMIGHTY GOD. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO HIM WHEN YOUR NAME IS NOT WRITTEN IN THE LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE? WOULD YOU SAY, “WELL, I NEVER HEARD THE GOSPEL?” YOU CERTAINLY COULDN’T SAY THAT BECAUSE YOU’RE HEARING IT TODAY.