The investor’s manual would tell you that the Return on Investment (ROI) for any investment is computed by determining the difference between what was gained and the cost of the investment, over the investment itself. Mathematically, it can be represented as ROI = (Gain – Investment)/Investment. In layman’s terms, this means that the value of an investment is the profit over price, i.e., what you gained over what you paid. We often make this determination when it comes to getting the best value for the price we pay for the things we buy for ourselves. Not only do we give it considerable thought before purchasing an item of value, but we also take ardent care of the item, carefully protecting it and cherishing it once we have bought it, if it is something that we determine as valuable.
On the spiritual front, when it comes to eternal life that is given to all who believe in the Son of God, in Jesus Christ, is it possible for us to put a value on it? Things we don’t value, we often don’t give it much thought and if we don’t value eternal life, then we wont cherish it. So what is the value of eternal life?
If Value = Profit/Price; then the value of Eternal life which is profit to all who believe in Jesus Christ will be equal to Eternal Life divided by what we paid for it. Since Jesus paid it all for us, we pay nothing for eternal life. Mathematically, this would mean that Value = Eternal life/Nothing or Zero which amounts to a value that cannot be defined, for anything divided by zero is undefined. In other words, the value of eternal life cannot be defined, but even the whole world is lesser in value than what one gains when they accept and believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior (Mark 8:36).
The songwriter aptly put it in the song, “Here I am to worship”, “I will never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that Cross“. If MasterCard was to make a commercial about Eternal Life, they would probably resort to something like “Eternal Life in Christ Jesus – Priceless” and they would not be incorrect.
Mark 8:34-37 (KJV)
34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
