Your Soul has Eternal Value

"And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?" Matthew 16:26 NLT

In an article titled, "Chinese chain-smoking marathon runner completes 26 miles in less than three and a half hours, " published yesterday, the following was reported: Nicknamed "Uncle Chen", the serial smoker leant on the old habit while completing the Xin'anjiang Marathon near Shanghai last week. Chen, 50, finished the arduous race in just 3hrs 28mins and placed 574th out of more than 1,500 competitors.After pictures of Chen went viral on social media site Weibo, race organisers shared his race certificate and confirmed the impressive finishing time. Chen has also been pictured chain-smoking while tackling other events, including the 2018 Guangzhou Marathon and 2019 Xiamen Marathon. He finished the 2018 race in 3hrs 36mins and the 2019 contest in 3hrs 32mins, Canadian Running Magazine reported. Local media reportedly noted that Uncle Chen only smokes when he runs. Chen first achieved fame when racegoers branded him "Smoking Brother" during marathons in 2017. This just goes to show that people will go to great lengths to get famous, even at the expense of their health. 

And you know, in a society where more and more people seem fixated on achieving fame at any cost, we would all do well to consider the questions Jesus asked, "what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?Is anything worth more than your soul?" And the obvious answer is nothing you and I could ever gain in this world is more valuable than gaining all that Jesus has to offer both now and in eternity. You see, any fame, fortune, power or prestige gained at the expense of following Jesus in this lifetime will be left behind or lost when we die. Which is the very reason we should work to achieve and acquire only those things that are eternal—living to be famous only in the Father’s eyes. 

So work to gain a right relationship with Christ above all else my friend. This will not only ensure that you spend eternity with Him but will allow you to evaluate all that happens from an eternal perspective; something that will benefit you both here and in the hereafter. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that there's nothing worth gaining in this world that is more valuable than our souls. Cause us to remember Lord that to lose one’s soul is to die without a right relationship with You and to, therefore, spend an eternity in the lake of fire. May that thought inspire us to pursue You will all our might and to encourage others to do the same. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!