238. MAT 16:25. THE LOSSES AND GAINS CONNECTED WITH RELIGION

Mat_16:25. The Losses and Gains Connected with Religion

PART I

"For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it, and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it."’97Mat_16:25

The religion of Christ is eminently a religion of self-denial. It commences with this, for Christ says, "If any man will come after me, and be my disciple, let him take up his cross and follow me." "If any man love father or mother, or houses or lands, or even his own life, more than me, he is not worthy of me." Christ’s example was one of self-denial. And the spirituality of Christ’s holy laws necessarily involves acts of holy sacrifice and self-denial. But present self-denials shall be productive of future advantages, while present advantages, at the. expense of religion, shall be followed by future disappointment and eternal loss. These are the truths expressed in the text, "For whosoever will save his life," &c.

Our subject may be considered the balance-sheet of profit and loss to the saint and sinner.

Notice,

I. The Things of this Life Men may obtain by rejecting the Religion of Christ.

1. They may obtain a considerable portion of earthly riches.

Success generally attends the undivided and persevering efforts of men. It is not invariably the case: but so often as to make it the rule, and failure the exception Some men make haste to be rich; and benevolence, humanity, justice, are all sacrificed to effect it. Hence many, by fraud, oppression, insatiable avarice, &c., add field to field, &c. It has ever been so. Ancient tyrants and conquerors thus enlarged their dominions.

2. They may obtain the sensual gratifications of life.

Some have denied the pleasurableness of sin. This is a mistake. Our first parents saw the fruit, that it was fair to the eyes, &c. Sin has its honey, flowery meads, and downy beds. Moses rejected the pleasures of sin.

3. They may obtain the distinctions of worldly honor and praise.

The world has her smiles, her acclamations, her distinctions, and her crowns. She has her garlands to bestow upon the successful competitors for her favor; and how thousands pant to obtain them. No toil too great, no efforts too strenuous, no sacrifice too dear, to make for them, These, I presume, are the chief advantages to be gained by rejecting the religion of Christ.

Let us see, then,

II. In what Respects these Advantages shall be lost to them.

"Whosoever shall save his life shall lose it."

1. They shall often be interrupted in their enjoyment of them.

It is not settled and sure good which they obtain; it is not undisturbed enjoyment. The preached word interrupts them. A celebrated monarch once expressed this, when he said, "I hate him for he always prophesies evil concerning me." Bodily afflictions interrupt them; fearful forebodings interrupt them; the scourges of conscience interrupt them; reflection, whether as to past, present, or future, interrupts them. There are bitter ingredients mingled with their cups, which often render what is otherwise gratifying distracting indeed.

2. Sometimes they are overtaken with overwhelming calamities.

What did our first parents gain by eating of the forbidden fruit? What did the old world gain by their atheism and revellings? What did Lot gain by choosing the well-watered plains of Sodom? What did Gehazi gain by his talents of silver and changes of raiment? What did Haman gain by his elevated dignity, &c.? What did Belshazzar gain by his midnight revellings and carousings, and by polluting the vessels of the Lord’s sanctuary? What did Judas gain by his thirty pieces of silver? What did Ananias and Sapphira gain by reserving what they had promised to the Holy Ghost? Or, finally, what did Herod gain by allowing himself to be intoxicated with the deifying and blasphemous applauses of the people? The sequel of each case will illustrate the text, that a man "may gain his life, and yet lose it."

3. They must all necessarily be forfeited at death.

See the rich fool. These things belong to this world, and to this world only. Death makes the rich man poor as the beggar; brings down the grandee of earth to a level with the peasant. We brought nothing into this world, &c.

4. They produce the most appalling consequences in the eternal world.

"Whatsoever a man soweth," &c. Refer to the conversation between Abraham and the rich man, Luk_16:24, &c. Inordinate love of the things of this life inevitably closes the gates of the life to come. How fearfully true, "That whosoever will save his life," &c.

Application

1. The danger of worldly-mindedness. A man may perish without being profane and impious, &c.

2. The great end of life. To lay up treasure in heaven, &c.

3. The extreme folly of rejecting true religion.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS