(Mark 8:36-37) “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?  Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”  Jesus, after rebuking Peter and teaching that one must devote ones self wholly to the cause, he asked the aforementioned question.  How often do you ask yourself that question?  Satan banks on this question.  Satan figures that everyone has a price.  His job is to find that price and offer it in hopes that each and every human being will sell their souls to him.

With Satan’s work set before him from the very beginning of creation he aimed high.  He went right after the first two humans to live on earth.  He did so by telling a little lie.  (Genesis 3:2-4) “And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.  And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die.”  Notice how Satan added the word “not” to his sentence.  It is through subtlety that he works (II Corinthians 11:3).

While there were many in the Bible that allowed Satan to find a price, there are two specific New Testament examples of individuals who had physical prices.  Judas Iscariot had a price of 30 pieces of silver.  That is exactly what it took to get him to sell out the Lord (Matthew 26:14).  Judas had a problem with the love of money, which was evident since even before he sold out the Lord.  Judas was the keeper of the money and he was stealing from it (John 12:4-6).  Ananias and his wife Sapphira decided to be dishonest about their giving to God.  They did not lie to men, but they lied to God (Acts 5:1-10).  How true the teaching is in both of these cases that the love of money is the root of “all evil” (I Timothy 6:10).

I use to sell automobiles.  One thing I would do for customers on a common basis is list the “pro’s” and “con’s” of owning the type of vehicle that they were interested in owning.  Let’s do that with serving Christ and serving Satan.  If you serve Satan you leave this life and you get a warm eternal vacation.  (Matthew 25:41) “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”  (II Thessalonians 1:8-9) “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.”  (Revelation 21:8) “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”  I have never met a person who would choose this type of everlasting destination.

By serving Christ the eternal destination becomes great.  With Hell being so terrible, we can all realize how great the exact opposite  (Heaven) will be.  Just as Hell is eternal so is Heaven (Matthew 25:46 and Hebrews 13:14).  By serving Christ we gain His gift, which is eternal life (Romans 6:23).  By serving Christ we will inherit a house not made with hands (II Corinthians 5:1), that Christ is preparing for us (John 14:2).  Heaven is a place of eternal joy.  There are no tears, pain, or suffering (Revelation 21:3-7).  What sounds better to you?

To gain eternal life we must obey the Gospel.  The Lord tells us there are five essential things we must do to become Christians.

1.  Hear the Gospel (Romans 10:17).
2.  Believe the Gospel (Mark 16:15-16).
3.  Repent of our sins (Acts 3:19).
4.  Confess Christ (Acts 8:37 and Romans 10:10).
5.  Finally we must be baptized (Acts 2:38, I Corinthians 12:12-13, Romans 6:3-6, and I Peter 3:21).

After obeying the Gospel we must continue faithful in obedience to the Lord (Matthew 7:21 and Revelation 2:10).  Answer Satan today with a big “no sale” by being obedient to the Lord!