Chapter 01: What Will It Profit a Man?
Chapter 1: What Will It Profit a Man? The Lord Jesus challenges our world and life view: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?”2 Our age is increasingly materialistic. People are crazily driven to seek comforts and pleasures to such an extent that they are entirely oblivious of eternal verities. Life seems to have become a short trip from the maternity ward to the cemetery. That’s all. Apparently a huge vacuum lies beyond the grave. Admittedly, most western nations have made great economic and social progress, but can the world’s affluence even begin to be compared to our soul’s salvation? What will we be able to carry over to the next life?
I was raised up in a Roman Catholic family. My parents always taught me to believe that God exists, and that there is an eternal destiny for all: either in heaven or in hell. From childhood I was trained to think about my relationship with the Creator and about eternal life. I am so thankful to God for my parents: they have certainly given me a good start. I am now writing this book to my Catholic friends, who have similarly taken notice of Christ’s solemn warning. We would all be losers if we manage to accumulate what this world has to offer only to be consigned to an eternal punishment in hell. As a Roman Catholic I was sure of walking along the right path. I was aware of other roads that lead to perdition. Jesus Himself had warned us: “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.”3 But I had hardly anything to worry about. As a member of the Catholic Church, the true church of Christ, I knew what a great heritage I enjoyed within her bosom. I only had to pay attention, lest I would be led astray by other religions and fall away into the wide road that leads to destruction.
Quite unexpectedly my brother accosted me one day and remarked, “Did you know that we go to heaven by faith in Christ, apart from the merits of our good works?”
“Nonsense,” I readily retorted, “we acquire salvation both by faith as well as by our good works.” Animatedly, I continued to defend the Catholic religion. He read out some portions of Scripture; I remained unconvinced.
I soon learned what had happened. My brother had been confronted by some Irish tourists, evangelical Christians, to be exact. They met with him several times, and apparently had won him over to their religion. Naturally enough, I felt sorry for him. I was worried how he had deviated from the teaching of Mother Church, and since I had implicit trust in the doctrine of my church, I resolved to study the Holy Bible for myself with the purpose of convicting him of his error. For several months I continued to pester him, making every attempt to turn him back to the fold.
Many years have now elapsed since that wintry evening. Today I too, like my brother, am an evangelical Christian. My convictions have changed radically. I confess today that I am saved simply through my faith in Christ alone; my good works have nothing to do in order to merit eternal life. But I assure you that I have not changed in everything. My love for all Catholics has not diminished in the least. Rather it has been strengthened.
Truth and Salvation
I sincerely desire to share the good news about Jesus Christ with Catholics; all the more since I know what zeal they can display towards God. Nevertheless religious zeal is no guarantee of truth or salvation. The apostle Paul sorrowfully mentions his own countrymen, the Jews. He says: “For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.”4 The Jews assumed that they were treading on the path of life. After all they enjoyed a rich tradition going back to the times of the patriarchs, to Moses and the prophets. They were distinctively religious; they fasted, prayed regularly, gave alms and worshipped God. Perhaps you too are prone to reason: “I am a member in a church backed up by a tradition dating back to Christ and His apostles; I attend Mass and confess to the priest; I make every attempt to obey the commandments and I am not forgetful of the poor and needy. How can I be in error?” In spite of their religion and tradition those devout Jews were lost. They did not know God. Unknowingly they were on their way to hell, yet tragically, they were sure of being in the right. The apostle Paul testifies: “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.”5 In spite of their self-confidence, in reality they were still lost and in need of salvation. Why? Because their devotion did not agree with the truth of God’s Word. They thought that they had the privilege of drinking from the pure water of life whereas, in fact, they were drinking poisoned water. Do you dare, then, to wait until the Day of Judgement to discover where you really stand? It would be too late then. Do not confuse religious zeal with the truth. They should exist together, but often they do not. Your own eternal destiny is at stake. Are you acquainted with the truth, God’s message of salvation to humanity? Quite appropriately we shall tackle this question first of all.