Eternal Thinking (Matthew 16:24-28)

Introduction

Attention:

Imagine standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon, holding a small pebble.

You can see the vast, breathtaking expanse stretching out before you—a landscape that has been shaped over many, many years.

Now, imagine focusing all your attention on that tiny pebble in your hand, worrying about its weight, its texture, and its value, while ignoring the magnificent view before you.

This is often how we live our lives, focusing on the temporary and immediate concerns while missing the grand, eternal perspective that Jesus offers.

Jesus challenges us to lift our eyes from the pebbles in our lives and consider the vast, eternal landscape of our souls.

Today, we are continuing our series where we’ve been looking at questions that Jesus asked.

We’ll be looking at two of the most famous questions that Jesus ever asked

And through this, we will see how important it really is to have an eternal perspective in the way that we think about things.

Need:

We really need to hear this, because we often ourselves focused on the pebble more than the Grand Canyon, don’t we?

Life is filled with so many challenges that its hard to keep the big picture in mind

We are so busy with so many different things and they all feel so big, but their significance pails in comparison to the grand scope of eternity.

We are in need of Jesus’ help in order to have an eternal perspective.

So let’s dive in and seek the Lord’s guidance this morning!

Body

Jesus’s Questions:

Matthew 16:26 (ESV)

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?

But what is Jesus getting at with this question?

There are two phrases that we need to talk about: “gains the world” and “forfeits his soul.”

Scripture often refers to the “world” as presenting what life has to offer us apart from Christ.

And when we think about “gaining the world,” this reminds us of Jesus’ third temptation in Matthew 4:8-10, where Satan offers Jesus “the kingdoms of the world and their glory.”

And the truth is, we face all sorts of similar temptations every day.

We want to gain everything in the here and now.

We want to be on top.

We want to feel important.

Everyone desires to “gain the world”

But what about “forfeit his soul?”

This describes the cost of gaining the world

In trying to seek wordly gain, we end up losing what really matters; ourselves, and the abundant life that God has called us to.

That’s what Jesus means by asking this question.

But what is the answer to it?

Well its implied and obvious:

The answer: It won’t!

It doesn’t profit you if you lose your soul while trying to gain the world.

But Jesus attached another question onto this in verse 26.

Let’s check that one out:

Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

You can’t give anything for your soul because your soul is the most valuable thing you’ve got

So the implied answer here is...

The answer: Nothing!

Our only hope is to stop focusing on the things of the world

But how do we do that?

How do we move past the present?

We have to start thinking eternally.

The Big Idea: Eternal thinking matters.

To explore the implications of these questions of Jesus some more, we are going to look at verses that surround it before and after

And from these verses, we will see three clear commands that will help us to embrace eternal thinking.

Three Commands to Embrace Eternal Thinking

1. Carry your cross

Matthew 16:24

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Explanation

This is a verse that is all about following Jesus, or being a disciple.

Immediately before this, Jesus had predicted His death and resurrection, Peter denied that Jesus would suffer, and then Jesus rebuked Peter.

Peter failed to see what being a disciple is all about

So here, Jesus goes ahead and lays it all out on the table.

This verse can be separated into three commands

First you have “deny yourself”

That’s right; you have to deny the very person that its hardest to do so with.

But how do we do that?

According to David Platt, “You die to yourself by putting aside self-righteousness, self-indulgence, and everything that belongs to you— your desires, your ambitions, your thoughts, your dreams, and your possessions.”

SosStop prioritizing everything you want; they won’t matter in the grand scheme of eternity.

Deny yourself and stop trying to gain the world.

Second, you have to “take up your cross”

Today, when we hear anything about a cross, the first thing that pops into our mind is Jesus and Easter time.

But back then, it was common for criminals to be executed that way

So then, when they heard this, they understood that, what Jesus is calling them towards is being a “dead man walking.”

The cross is a symbol of suffering that the Christian is to embrace

The call is to be “all-in” in our faith

As R.T. France puts it, this means “putting loyalty to Jesus before self-preservation.”

We must pick up our crosses, letting go of our desires to gain the world.

The third part of this then is to “follow Jesus”

To live the type of life that Jesus lived

To be a Jesus-type of person

To do Jesus-type stuff.

Jesus was always thinking about eternity

Before the cross, after asking to be spared from it, he said, “not my will, but your will be done.”

That’s the type of lifestyle and thinking that we are to embrace as followers of Christ

Jesus is what we follow after, not the world.

Illustration

Think of a firefighter rushing into a building to save others.

The firefighter takes on immense risk and bears the weight of responsibility, knowing that their actions could cost them their life.

Yet, they do it willingly because they understand the value of saving lives.

Similarly, carrying our cross means embracing the challenges and sacrifices of following Jesus, recognizing the eternal significance of our actions.

Application

Is your cross on your back or on the ground?

I think for many of us, if we’re being honest, we’ve put our cross down somewhere along the way.

How have your attempts to “gain the whole world” pushed your cross off of your back and onto the ground behind you?

Maybe you’ve been chasing vocational and financial security.

Maybe you’ve been seeking the approval of others.

Maybe the business of life has gotten you tired and weary, and you feel as if you have no strength left to pick that cross back up.

What would it look like for you to deny yourself, pick up your cross, and start walking again?

Put down the temporary stuff of life and pick up eternal submission to our Lord.

Transition Statement: And as you grab onto your cross, let go of your life.

2. Lose your life

Matthew 16:25

For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Explanation:

There is a fork in the road.

Are you going to live for yourself, or are you going to put it all on the line and follow Jesus?

According to Jesus, the “self” that you live for isn’t worth it, since your true “self” is lost in the process.

God created you to live for something bigger than yourself, and going against that voids your life of true purpose

On the other hand, losing your “physical” life is the way to find true and abundant life that transcends death.

This was literally true for Peter and most of the other disciples; they were martyred for what they believe

But it is true for us in a spiritual sense as well; we have died to ourselves and are now living for God.

Also, while we may never die for our faith, we should radically be willing to do so for the sake of Jesus.

One commentary words it like this, “self-preservation leads to self-destruction and self-denial leads to self-fulfillment.”

Preservation destructs, and denial fulfills.

Another commentary says “saving one’s life now will result in losing it at the end, and losing it now will result in finding it at the end.”

We’ve gotta keep the big picture in mind!

This is true both in the sense of salvation and in the sense of living the abundant life that God has called us to.

Trying to preserve our lives by not submitting them to God at all will result in an eternity separated from Him.

And losing our lives by dying to ourselves and accepting Jesus into our lives will result in eternal life with Him.

And if you are truly saved, there is absolutely nothing you could do to lose your salvation.

But it is still possible for Christians to “lose their life” in terms of not living it in the abundant way that God has called us to

Doing otherwise requires obedience

And in this sense, when we lose our lives now by living for Jesus, we get a sense of purpose and fulfillment that is only found in Him.

Gaining leads to loss, and loss leads to gain

This is the way of the “great reversal,” where God has turned the worst thing that ever happened (Christ’s death) into the best thing that has ever happened

God changes things; its a part of His nature.

So when you lose your life by having eternal thinking, you find true purpose and fulfillment.

Illustration:

Consider a seed being planted in the ground.

To grow into a fruitful plant, the seed must first be buried and "die" to its current form.

Only then can it transform and produce a bountiful harvest.

In the same way, losing our life for Jesus means letting go of our old self and desires, allowing God to transform us and produce eternal fruit through our lives.

Application:

What is it that you’ve been trying to find?

We all have been trying find meaning, value, and purpose for our lives.

Are you losing by winning or winning by losing?

What would it look like for you to completely let go of your earthly desires and to truly embrace the abundant life that God has called you towards?

This means spending time with God

This means serving others

Coming to an end to yourself has an eternal impact.

Never forget this.

Focus on the life to come more than the here and now.

Transition Statement: Die to yourself, and you will live. And as you live, eagerly expect the King to come.

3. Anticipate your Savior

Matthew 16:27-28

27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. 28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.

Explanation

Jesus is coming back!

This is a fundamental belief in Christianity, rooted in the promises of Jesus Himself.

In this passage, Jesus foretells His return in glory with His angels.

This promise of His second coming is a source of great hope and anticipation for believers.

Jesus speaks of His return right after addressing the cost of discipleship, highlighting the eternal perspective we should have.

Part of what it means to be a disciple is to “think eternal” by anticipating His return.

The Son of Man will come in His Father’s glory with His angels and reward each person according to what they have done.

This underscores the importance of living a life that honors God and aligns with His will.

This isn’t about earing salvation through works but about living a life that reflects our faith and commitment to Jesus

Our actions have eternal significance

We are called to live righteously, serve others, and spread the Gospel, knowing that our Savior will return and judge the world with fairness and justice.

Anticipating Jesus’ return means living with a sense of urgency and purpose.

It’s not about fear but about hope and readiness.

We are called to be watchful and prepared, like the wise virgins in the parable in Matthew 25, who kept their lamps filled with oil, ready for the bridegroom’s arrival.

This anticipation should shape our daily lives, influencing our decisions, priorities, and how we interact with others.

It is a privilege for Christians to look forward to Jesus’ return.

This future hope gives us strength and motivation to endure hardships and remain faithful.

Our responsibility is to live in a way that honors Christ and reflects His love and truth to the world.

We should be active in our faith, sharing the Gospel and serving others as we await His return.

Every generation has looked at world events and seen signs that point to Christ.

While we don’t know the exact time, we are called to be vigilant and discerning.

The signs are reminders to stay focused on our mission and not get distracted by the cares of the world.

Jesus’s promise of His return is certain.

In John 14:3, He says, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

This certainty provides a foundation for our faith and encourages us to persevere, knowing that our Savior is coming back.

Living in anticipation of Christ’s return transforms our outlook on life.

It shifts our focus from the temporary to the eternal.

It helps us to prioritize what truly matters-our relationship with God, loving others, and living out our faith boldly and authentically.

Illustration

Think of a child eagerly waiting for a parent who has been away on a long trip.

Each day, the child watches and listens for any sign of their parent's return, preparing and getting excited for the joyful reunion

Similarly, anticipating our Savior’s return means living with a sense of expectancy and readiness, knowing that Jesus will come back as He promised.

This anticipation shapes our actions, keeps us focused on eternal values, and fills us with hope and purpose.

Application

What sorts of emotions fill your mind and heart when you think about Christ’s return?

Are you scared? Anxious? Excited?

Christ’s return is something unique that we get to look forward to as Christians.

What would it look like for you to anticipate His return?

Maybe, every day when you wake up, tell the Lord in prayer “even so come!”

How might being more aware of Christ’s return impact your actions in the present moment?

When you do this, you start prioritizing stuff that matters over stuff that doesn’t matter as much.

Our souls take pleasure as we await Christ’s return,

Conclusion

Visualization:

Picture yourself standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon again, but this time, instead of holding a small pebble, you are looking out into the vast expanse with a heart full of eternal hope.

Imagine letting go of that pebble, symbolizing the temporary worries and desires of this world, and embracing the magnificent view of God's eternal promises.

See yourself living a life that reflects this eternal perspective, carrying your cross, losing your life for Christ's sake, and eagerly anticipating His return.

Reiteration:

Eternal thinking matters because it shifts our focus from the fleeting to the everlasting, from the trivial to the profound.

Final Challenge:

As we go from here today, let’s commit to living with an eternal perspective.

Let’s deny ourselves, carry our crosses, lose our lives for Christ, and eagerly anticipate His return.

Let's not get caught up in the pebbles of this life, but instead, fix our eyes on the vast, breathtaking expanse of God's eternal promises.

PRAY