A Divine Exchange

Selling Your Soul

You’ve probably heard of Faust, a man who sold his soul to an agent of the devil to gain knowledge and power.

Or maybe the blues musician Robert Johnson who supposedly sold his soul to gain exceptional guitar playing skills.

Or the Alabama Crimson Tide … just kidding.

In the legend of Faust. The man intended to use his powers to gain more intellect, but instead began to pursue worldly pleasures. Unfortunately for him, one of the consequences was detriment to those around him and eventually his own boredom. He had it all and it wasn’t enough.

You may not realize it because you didn’t have a chance meeting with a little red guy with a pitchfork. But one way or another, you will make a divine exchange of your soul for something in this world or for God.

Luke 18:18-27

Luke 18:18–19 “And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.”

Why are you calling me good? Do you believe that I am God or do you have a misconstructed view of good?

As we’ll see, he thought good was just based on the works or appearance. Jesus appeared to be a good man because of all the things that He was doing.

Luke 18:20–21 “You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’ ” And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.””

Notice that all these commands are man-related, not God-related.

This man recognized that something was off, something was missing.

You need to hear frustration and desperation in his voice, not pride. “I’ve done all those things, but I don’t think I’ve done enough.”

Being a good person without God may be good for others, but it is not good for you.

You can spend your whole life doing good works — generosity, kindness, dirty work, but without God, it will not feel like you’re doing enough.

You can go to church 3x a week, sing loud, amen in the right places, tithe, read you Bible, serve, teach, … but without a relationship with God, all that will wear you out and it will all fall short of what your heart is longing for.

That’s what happened with this young ruler. That’s why he was coming to Jesus. I’ve done everything that I’m supposed to do. I have all kinds of wealth. And I still know that something isn’t right in me. I’m missing something.

Luke 18:22–23 “When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.”

What he was missing was a relationship with God. His money and possessions were the most important thing to him, not God — idolatry.

Do you love God more than anything or anyone else?

What’s the first thing on your mind when you wake up?

What’s the last thing on your mind when you go to bed?

What do you spend most of your time worried about?

What are you most afraid to lose?

What are you working for?

If you don’t surrender your life to God, you will surrender it to something else.

The rich young ruler didn’t have money and possessions, they had him. They had a grip on him. They controlled him and every decision he made was based on it.

What has you?

What is the one thing in between you and Jesus? What do you need to give up?

This is the cost of following Him. We don’t earn salvation. We are saved by grace through faith. Bud you have to count the cost. Are you willing to leave your life now behind.

The money and possessions were this man’s life. Some of you it may be your social life, your friends. Some of you may be Mr. Popular at work because you tell the good jokes and cut up with the boys. Are you willing to give that up to follow Jesus?

Some of you like to gossip. You like to know the tea and you like to spill the tea. You can’t do that and follow Christ. Are you willing to give that up?

Some of you may have a job that requires you to give God a back seat in your life. If that is the case, you might need to pray for a different job.

Some of you have believe your kids education or that athletics are the most important thing in their life. Are you willing to place God ahead of those things?

Why did the rich man go away sad? Because the things of this world will get a strong grip on you and it is not easy to pry yourself out of the clutches of this world and its empty promises.

Luke 18:24–27 “Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.””

Why is it difficult for the rich to enter the kingdom of God? They struggle to live in need. If they feel empty they will try to fill that with something else. And they have all the money in the world to try to fill that void.

The money itself won’t be enough and they’ll think they need just a little bit more.

There’s pride in having wealth. You’re wealthy. You’re hard working. You’ve made this happen.

Beyond wealth, it is difficult to leave a sin that has had you for a while. Money, social status, stuff, family, achievement, pride, lust, etc…

This rich ruler thought he had money and good works, so what’s missing?

He thought he just needed to add or obtain one more thing. What is it Jesus? What am I missing?

Eternal Life isn’t an add on; it’s an exchange.

Matthew 16:24–26 “Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”

Luke 18:26–27 “Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.””

The listeners thought this guy was pretty well put together, but Jesus said it would be difficult for him to be saved.

He would have to exchange everything that his life is based on now for a life that is based solely on Jesus Christ and living to obey and follow Him.

How do we do that? How do you break free from that thing that has a hold on you?

The True Rich Young Ruler

Luke 18:22 “When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.””

2 Corinthians 8:9 “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”

Jesus gave up His life to save yours.

He gave up His holy life in exchange for our sinful one that He might pay the penalty for it.

In return He urges us to give up our sinful life in exchange for His holy one that we might enjoy the blessings of it.

It was impossible for us to give up our sin. But with Jesus it is possible because He has already done it.

You need to exchange your life for the life that Jesus has for you.

What is your life right now?

Will you give it up to follow Jesus?