“Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold…but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.” 1 Peter 1:18-19
The value of anything is determined by what someone is willing to pay for it. When we apply that reasoning to salvation we discover the enormous value of a soul. The price of salvation wasn’t paid with silver or gold but with the blood of God’s only Son, Jesus. That makes the human soul the most valuable thing on Earth.
Why does God place such a high value on our souls? Well, each soul is irreplaceable because we’re uniquely created. Psalm 139 tells us, “For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb…and in Your book were written the days that were ordained for me” (vv13, 16). God didn’t make anyone else exactly like you. Think about that. Out of the billions of people who have ever been born, no two have the same DNA or will live the same life. So when a soul is lost, it’s irreplaceable.
Losing a soul is also irreversible. Hebrews 9:27 tells us, “And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.” Each person gets one life with one soul. And a soul without the Savior is sentenced to an eternity of separation from God. There are no second chances after death. That’s why James 5:20 urges us, “let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”
Since God puts such a high value on each soul, don’t you think soul winning should be a priority for every believer? When you place the right value on a soul, you’ll put the right effort into reaching that soul. How much time and effort do you give to sharing the gospel compared to chasing things of earthly value? Silver and gold won’t last. But the rewards of winning souls are eternal; for both the souls that are saved and the soul winners.
Previous devotions in this series: What it Means to be Lost