YOUR SOUL IS NOT A USED CAR
Have you ever bought a used car? The seller asks a certain price; say $5000. You decide you want that car, so you offer him $3500. He responds with, “How about $4500?” Then you finally agree to $4000. It is a negotiation.
God has told us the price of having eternal life. Jesus says in Mark 8:34-35, “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 and the gospel’s will save it.” Jesus purchased our salvation at the cross (Mk 10:45). Yet there is a cost of accepting His gift. We have to deny ourselves. That is a high price, but it is necessary. There is no negotiating it with God.
Jesus says in Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” We can’t only offer God lip service and pretend like that should be enough to cover it. We have to give him his asking price. No less. There is no negotiation with God.
Paul says in Romans 12:1, “I appeal to you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, to present bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” A living sacrifice. What does that mean? It means we are to deny ourselves; to do the will of the Father, and to serve others. That is the asking price for our souls. And we must pay it all, or we get nothing. We can’t bargain hunt with the Lord. It is all or nothing. There is no negotiation with God.
Are you willing to give your all to God? The reward is out of this world!
By Harris Waterman