The most important things

Now if we could please let's turn to the gospel of Mark, Mark's gospel and chapter 8. The gospel of Mark chapter 8 and let's read together at verse 36. Mark's gospel chapter 8 and verse 36. For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Now if your Bible shows the words of the Lord Jesus in red, these words will be in red.

These are words that he spoke. This was a concern that he brought before the people. This is a truth that all needed to hear.

What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? As I look at this passage what I see here is the Savior focusing on the most important things as he speaks about our soul. The Savior said what would a man be profited if he gained everything and lost his own soul? The gospel of Matthew please and chapter 6. Matthew's gospel I'm sorry chapter 7. Matthew's gospel chapter 7 and we'll read please at verse 24. Matthew chapter 7 and verse 24.

Again the words of the Lord Jesus. Words that he sought to impress on the minds and hearts of his listeners. Matthew chapter 7 verse 24.

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them I will liken him unto a wise man which built his house upon a rock and the rain descended and the floods came and the winds blew and beat upon that house and it fell not for it was founded upon a rock. And everyone that heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them not shall be likened unto a foolish man which built his house upon the sand and the rain descended and the floods came and the winds blew and beat upon that house and it fell and great was the fall of it. Again we have the Lord Jesus and he's emphasizing to us something that is of most importance.

He speaks about the words that he has spoken. God's Word. What God says.

What he speaks to you. He says the wise man hears and does something about it. Most important things.

Thirdly please read with me in the book of Acts chapter 4. Acts chapter 4. Let's read together there at verse 12. Acts chapter 4 and verse 12. So what we have read about that the Savior emphasizes the importance of first of all is our soul.

Secondly what God says. Here in this passage let's look and see what we are told in verse 12 of Acts chapter 4. It says neither is there salvation in any other. There's no other hope but Christ.

Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. The most important things are soul. What God says and being saved for all eternity.

We trust that God will give help as we seek to speak a little on this important subject. Some things are important. Some things just seem important.

There are many things that occupy our minds and hearts. There are many things that are very dear to us. Some of course feel and rightly so that family is important and our children and our grandchildren said by a grandfather our grandchildren are important to us.

They're very very important and dear but there are things that men place value on that hardly seem important at all. Some think that sports and entertainment and games are important. Imagine if you can a person thinking on those things and the moment of the return of the Lord Jesus comes and they're left as they are in their sin for all the consequences that lie before them of a great eternity and they stop to think if they can on those last few moments of life and they wasted every opportunity because they missed on the most important things.

I want you to think with me if you would how that there are men and they never seem to figure it out. They never seem to be able to focus on what has true value and what has worth and the tragedy is that in this world of ours we are so influenced by those around us that even those of us who are believers sometimes let slide the things that are dearest to God and we miss our opportunities and our privileges whether it's to preach the gospel or to live for the Lord whatever it may be sadly we've taken on the taint of this world in its ways and we lost sight of the most important things but the Savior is quick to remind us in these passages of these truths. He says your soul is a most important thing.

A wealthy man in Britain a nobleman by birth inherited great wealth and large estates and the Associated Press carry the story of that man who had so much to his advantage and he spent his whole life devoted to one thing and using science and education and his funds and his estate all with the one same purpose he made every effort to produce in his scientific labs a perfectly spotted mouse how could you waste your life and all the advantages given and something so trivial and meaningless I wonder today have you got a sense of what's important I wonder have you taken in the words of the Lord Jesus as he reminds us with this truth what shall it profit a man whatever could you gain if you had the whole world tell you you get a lot of distractions that's one thing you get they have the ability to dive into anything to your heart's content yes you'd get that but if you lost your soul such a great loss nothing could ever restore I think is the Lord Jesus asked this question he asked it because it meant something to him this was not an unnecessary question this was not a foolish question this was not just a fill-in-the-time kind of question this was on the Savior's heart why the Savior knew that compared to anything else the value of your soul is most important a Savior knew that compared to everything else your soul standing in danger today this message is so important the Savior spoke these words he had a searching he had an illuminating reason for asking this question he wanted you to think about the stuff that counts are you thinking about your soul are you thinking my friend about what your destiny will be about what the end will be when it comes and what eternity may mean oh my friend the Savior this question that he asked he had that reason behind it because he wanted you to see what he sees he wanted you to understand how he understands that he wanted you to reckon up your chances he wanted you to reckon up your soul's value and view because you'll live one life and it comes to its close and if you have Christ you've got everything and if you have the whole world you've got nothing but stuff that won't stand the test of eternity why did he ask the question he had a concern for your soul he knows its value he has put such a high estimation on your soul he understands what all is behind this world in this attempt to draw us away from what's vital and important what is so valuable I remember the night I got saved actually I should be able to remember that I remember a preacher coming to our house for supper two of them I really didn't appreciate their presence there they reminded me of eternity they reminded me of salvation they reminded me of the gospel meetings that were going on they ruined my supper they read so long and they prayed so long and finally they were heading off to a meeting and finally I could get away from the table and I headed for my room and I had no idea one preacher could move so fast somehow he got between me a determined 15 and a half year old and my bedroom door and I'll never forget the interest he took and he asked me something I don't know what it was or he spoke a few words I don't know what they were but what I remember is him putting his hand on my shoulder and God impressed me with the great fact that this man cares about my soul and I was stopped by it I realized it's time I needed to think about it it's time I needed to do the reckoning up it's time I needed to make the choices and I determined that if there was salvation for Gary Sharp that night I was gonna go after it and that night by the grace of God he saved me but you know there's someone tonight who has an interest in your soul he may not lay his hand upon your shoulder in a physical way but oh how he'd love to stop you how he'd love to make you think I would love to draw you into this question so that you would deeply consider the realities of it what shall it profit a man what if he was talking to you and he said what would you gain if you got everything and you lost your soul someday every one of us will stand at either the brink of death and face eternity or we'll see that many have been snatched from amongst us as we've been hearing about the return of the Lord Jesus it thrills my heart and you don't have to go to heaven my friend you don't have to live for God you don't have to be forgiven and be washed in Jesus blood you need not trust the Savior you need not hear his voice you need only linger in your sin and he'll take you at your choice friend give some thought to your soul you can give some thought to the words of the Lord Jesus what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul this is an important question the Savior felt it was important to ask the Savior wants to search your heart friend what would it all amount to if you got everything your heart desired and you lost your soul but we read about what God says in Matthew's gospel chapter 6 7 and what God says to you tonight is what's important I don't know if you're reading the Bible or someone's reading it in a meeting like this whether you actually take it that way like it's for me he's speaking to me I remember having some children's meetings in a place called Lansing in North Toronto and there was a group of teenagers coming along and and they seemed to take an interest in what they were hearing and one night one of them led some others up to talk to me and and I can remember her looking at me in the eye and she said mr. sharp you've been telling us that you know you're gonna be in heaven and I said that's right I am gonna be in heaven and I know it and I'm glad you got a hold of that and you've been telling us that you know that everything's right between you and God I said that's true everything is right not because of what I've done but because of what the Savior has done and you know she said your sins are forgiven I said yes it's true she said how come you're so sure and I said okay that's a good question deserves an answer will you answer a question for me and I looked at her and I said tell me can you lie she said yes I can lie I said can your mother lie my mother can lie I said what about your dad can your dad lie yes my dad can lie I said what about what about the teacher at school can they lie she said yes I said what about the preacher or the priest can can they lie and she looked at me kind of funny and she thought and then she said yes they can lie I said what about me can I lie and that charming young lady and her teens looked at me and she said well I don't think you would I said I didn't ask you that I say can I lie she said yes you can lie I said do you know anyone who cannot lie right away her face brighten up God can't lie I said then if you want to know for certain you're gonna be in heaven you want to be sure that you're forgiven if you want to know that it's well between you and God you need to find out what God says that's what the Lord Jesus is talking about here he says the person who hears what I say and does something about it takes it for real accepts its truth at its face value he says that person is like the wise man that built his house upon a rock and the floods came and the wind howled the storm rose up and the floods attacked that house and what does he say he says it stood because it was founded upon a rock tell me friend what are you building on hope it's not the shifting sands of hope so hope it's not the kind of the language of many who are so familiar with the gospel and they would tell you well I want to be saved but you know there's always that question in it tell me friend what are you doing with God's Word what are you doing what it was what he has to say you know there's a career soldier excuse me in Matthew chapter 8 and he came to the Lord Jesus and he told about this servant who was grievously ill and the Lord Jesus said I'll come and heal him and what did that man say when the Lord Jesus so graciously offered to go and heal his servant he says I'm not worthy there isn't one of us worthy says I'm not worthy that you should come under my roof just speak the word only all you have to do is say it he got it didn't he he understood what was important he understood that the Savior's Word alone was all he needed there's somebody here tonight and you'd like to be certain about God's salvation you'd like to be sure that you're gonna be in heaven you'd like to know that the Savior actually bore your sins and his own body on the tree find out friend what God says this career soldier he got it he understood what was important and if God has a word for you tonight will you take it to your heart will you receive his truth will you take him what he's speaking will you hear his warnings no matter what he has to say my friend will you hear the warnings of God to die in your sin you'll never be in heaven every one of us defiled every one of us going astray as we are unfit for heaven and yet in his grace and his mercy and his kindness he has a word for you tonight that you can take and all the value of what is most important what would you say if he spoke to you how would you respond was he to talk language that you could understand in the scriptures I remember a man that I used to visit and and his name is Mr. Wayman actually his son called me or contacted me just last week and I remember speaking to Mr. Wayman and I asked him what the Bible whether he ever read he says I don't understand it I said well let me quote some of it to you and I started quoting verses like all have sinned and come short of the glory of God he said oh I understand that and all we like sheep have gone astray and turned everyone to his own way he says oh I understand that and the wicked shall be turned into hell and all nations that forget God he said well I understand that you know some people just want to use it as an excuse tell me tonight do you want an excuse for salvation or for staying in your sins as you are or do you want what's real tonight because the most important thing you could ever get from God is his word he will never fail to keep it every promise he makes is dependable remember the sinful woman in John in loose gospel chapter 7 she came to the Lord Jesus and she came weeping and she came to his feet what a good place to start are you willing to come to his feet you willing to bow down before him are you willing to cry out tonight for mercy and that woman probably had heard him speak that woman had probably heard him say come unto me all you that labor and are heavy laden I will give you rest and that woman was just simple enough to take him at his word no surprise none at all that that wasn't how the story ended she came to him yes and the Lord Jesus almost looked like he was ignoring her but he knew why she was there he knew the heart that prompted her he knew the reason why she'd responded to the invitation he'd given and there at his feet the Lord Jesus speaks to his host Simon and he says do you see this woman of course Simon saw her he he wished she was anywhere but there in his own at the feet of his guest and he had thoughts in his mind the Savior knew as well he was saying if he was really Christ he'd know what kind of a person she is and you know Simon forgot something absolutely important he forgot that the one who was there at his table knew what kind of a person Simon was totally exposed in the presence of God unwilling to be honest but that woman was there at his feet and the Savior said Simon do you see this woman her sins maybe she she kind of came step backwards so to speak as she heard her sins and she thought oh no he's gonna speak about my sins but much to her delight she heard the rest of what he said her sins which are many are forgiven they're gone and I am sure that she stumbled over it perhaps a little because the Lord Jesus wasn't speaking to her but the Lord Jesus didn't want her in any doubt and so he gave her his word he says woman your sins are forgiven your faith has saved you just took me at my at my word go in peace likely that's why she came no peace without Christ no forgiveness without the Savior and the Savior spoke those words to her and the imaginer as she walked from that house it's a wonder of it all ringing in her soul I'm saved forgiven I've got peace with God you know how she got it she got it from the Savior's lips the important thing tonight is what God says I want you to notice a third thing that we read about in Acts chapter 4 being saved for all eternity being saved forever being saved in knowing being saved and sure all the blessedness of it the Bible says yeah the Bible says it doesn't it we must be saved that's what God says God says we must be saved and here as we look at this passage we can understand God knows this and you'll notice what's emphasized in this passage it's what you'll always find them emphasized when it comes to salvation neither is there salvation in anyone else he's the only Savior of sinners he's the only deliverer of the lost he's the only one who can rescue the perishing neither is there salvation in any other there is none other name under heaven fenders no reason to be confused tonight God says the answers in Christ and in Christ alone and whatever else you may consider to have some value it can't stand the test of what God says and God says we must be saved as I look at this I know that there are people and they argue with God and they question what he says and they doubt his word and they don't receive this truth friend would you just take it from the Word of God tonight it says we must be saved saved saved from our sins that's the problem that's the issue that's the big problem not only for us but also for God how can God take a guilty sinner to heaven how can God make sin stains white as snow there's only one way and while I can't quite put a formula to it I can tell you this friend the answers in Christ he's the only Savior his precious blood cleanses from all sin we must be saved notice it says must must means you have to be must means there's no other way what else could it possibly mean we must be saved we you and me you know God puts us all in the same situation we've all got the same problem the same issue is gonna come up time and time again if it was the last time you ever heard the gospel friend remember this God still says we must be saved we no matter whether you feel like you have a greater advantage or not no matter whether you feel like because you know so much you should get this special place we must be saved and I want you to notice it says we must be saved now that little words important God put it there with a blessed reason he wanted to tell us you can't save yourself he wanted to tell us that nothing we can do will merit us heaven or will give us this eternal life this blessing of salvation we must be saved and he tells us the answer to that because how could it be that God would save us when we're so guilty when we're destined for a place and I can't describe the horrors of the reality of a place called hell a place called a lake of fire God says we must be saved and the answers in this verse it's in Christ neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other no one else and you needn't be confused tonight the answers in the Savior and when it comes to the Savior you must remember he's the one who does the saving he's the one who rescues he's the one who can put your sin away but all the cost all the sacrifice he had to make all the sorrows that he bore and the judgment that he experienced listen to his own words spoken prophetically from above as he sent fire into my bones and it prevails against them that one who suffered on the cross experienced what it was to feel to endure the wrath of God poured out upon his holy soul my God my God why has thou forsaken me why are thou so far from helping me and from the words of my roaring the Savior experienced the awful wrath because God knew how important this was and the Savior was willing to pay with his own life bearing the burden on his own soul enduring the wrath of God in my place he did it for me and he has done it for you these are the most important things and don't give another thought to anything else tonight until you give place to the importance of your soul don't read another thing tonight until you take in what it is that God say and friend don't look anywhere else for amusement until you grasp the truth of this we must be saved must be saved we must be saved may God bless this word that's right