Market Watch: Value Of A Soul Plunges

*On the market, what is a fair exchange for your eternal soul? — one month, lifetime, night, moment of sinful pleasure

The absurdity and audacity of the Lord to ask such a question. Who would do such a moronic thing as to exchange his soul? Yet the universality of its application is clear. From the Garden, Adam traded knowledge for paradise, Balaam traded the favor of men for the favor of God, Esau traded blessing for bologna, Ananias traded hypocrisy for holiness, Judas traded silver for a Savior, and the rich young ruler traded lucre for life. This question causes you to look into the barrel of the cocked gun that is pointing you right between the eyes — WHAT ARE YOU EXCHANGING YOUR SOUL FOR? Or WHAT WOULD YOU EXCHANGE YOUR SOUL FOR?

*Is what you are living for, worth Jesus dying for?

*Transiency of life — 120 years vs eternity 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000....

*Proverbs 27:20 “ Hell and destruction are never full”

*Developing real estate down here in this life, but homeless from the heavenly eternal home?

*Donald Trump on hell “And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

*All the power in the world, but to die without God and to suffer eternally?

*Adolph Hitler on hell “And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and he cried and said, Father

Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my

tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

*All the money in the world but to leave this world as naked as you were when you entered it.

*Howard Hughes on hell, “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways

of death.”

*All the fame inthe world but to die unknown by God and without your name in the only “little black book”

that matters.

*Marilyn Monroe on hell, “outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

*All the alcohol you could drink, the drugs you could take, and the sex you could have

*Elvis Presley, Jimmy Hendrix on hell, “The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is

poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone

in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:”

*All the knowledge, but to die without knowing TRUTH

*Albert Einstein on hell, “This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life

was cast into the lake of fire.”

*All the religion but not to be saved.

*Mohammed, Buddha, Mother Theresa, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons on hell: “But the fearful, and

unbelieving, and the 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. BALAAM

A. Balak king of Moab called Balaam (God’s prophet) to curse God’s people, sending the leaders of his country with rewards for Balaam.

B. God told Balaam not to curse Israel for they are blessed.

C. Balaam told the leaders of Moab to go home because God refuses to let me go with you.

D. Balak sent more honorable princes offering to promote Balaam to very great honor to come with them and curse Israel.

E. Balaam tells them — If Balak gave me a his whole house full of silver and gold I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord to do less or more. Yet he still enquires of God to see if God had changed His mind. (He had no scriptures).

F. God allows Balaam to go but commands him to only speak what God commands. Yet God’s anger is kindled because he went.

G. God sends an angel to oppose him as he is riding on his donkey. The donkey protects him from being slain three times — one she turns into a field, once she runs into a wall and crushes Balaam’s foot, and once she falls onto the ground under Balaam. The donkey rebuked him and then the Lord opened his eyes and he saw the angel with the sword drawn.

2 Peter 2:15-16 & 21-22

H. Angel said Balaam’s way was perverse so he was to be slain. Balaam repented b ut still went with the princes of Balak. He told Balak he could only speak the words God put in his mouth.

I. Balak showed Balaam the whole nation of Israel and they offered seven oxen and rams on seven altars — But God and Balaam blessed Israel.