Time Does Tell

What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? Mark 8:36-37

Used by permission from Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie, PO Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514. Greg is the senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, CA and is the host of the daily radio program, “A New Beginning”. Daily devotionals can be received via e-mail by subscribing at www.harvest.org.

A while ago, I ran into a guy that I once hung out with in school. I hadn’t seen him in about twenty-five years. He had called to say that he was coming to hear me speak, so we arranged to meet beforehand.

As we talked, he told me he had been married twice and was presently divorced. Then he said, “I basically drank my marriages away.” He went on to explain that he had fallen prey to alcoholism and had never gotten free of it. It had ruined his life.

I told him, “You know, in the Bible, God says, ‘You will seek Me and find Me. . . .’ “
“You can quote your book, and I’ll quote mine,” he said.”I’m in fellowship too—I’m in a twelve-step program.”

We used to hang out and party together, but although I left that lifestyle at age seventeen, he never did. As I look at the course his life has taken and the course my life has taken, it’s clear who really gave up the most.

There might be times as a Christian when you look at unbelievers and think, I don’t know. Maybe they’re having the good time, and I’m not. It might look as though they are having fun today, but there is a price for sin. You will reap what you sow.

If you live for Christ, if you determine to do things God’s way, you won’t regret it. You won’t find happiness or fulfillment through sex, drugs, or drinking. You won’t find it through relationships, success, possessions, or accomplishments. You will find happiness and fulfillment by walking in your Creator’s true purpose for your life: a living, dynamic relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Used by permission from Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie, PO Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514.