Letter - Forfeiting your own soul?

To the editor:

On Tuesday morning, July 13, famous and tumultuous baseball owner George Steinbrenner died at the age of 80. Perhaps very few other people in our country can portray the image of the successful American entrepreneur as did Mr. Steinbrenner.

Buying the Yankees for a mere $10 million back in 1973, he turned the Yankee team into a modern dynasty in a way that could only be euphemistically called “colorful.”  He built a sports empire that is worth more than $1.6 billion, while also giving millions away to charitable organizations.

Now I am certainly not making any judgment at all as to where Mr. Steinbrenner is now spending eternity, only God can do that. Yet, Mr. Steinbrenner serves as an excellent example of what Jesus said in Matthew 16:26, in regards to the person who has gained the whole world. Jesus said, “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?”

I believe Jesus’ point is very clear. A person can have all that this life offers, and he can even give massive amounts to charity, but if he has never received Jesus as his Savior and Lord, he will lose his soul (meaning eternal torment in hell).

Many today make the mistake of thinking that they can offset the sins they have committed by buying God off with good deeds and continue to live the “high life” apart from God. I am afraid that these folks will find out too late that indeed, they have gained the whole world (or at least a fair share of it) and forfeited their own soul.

Pastor Darryl Knappen,

Cornerstone Church

Alexandria, MN

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