The Cost Of The World - Matthew 16:26

 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? - Matthew 16:26

    The world we live in is a secular prison. We are expected to behave in a “politically correct” manner or we face the wrath of the world. One need only pick up a newspaper or turn on the news to see what has been happening to Christians around the world, not just here in America. In fact, in many foreign places Christians risk life and limb if they refuse to conform to the world.
    The Greek word for soul is psuchē. The definition mentions three very closely related words: spirit, soul, and vitality. Christ was teaching His disciples that there was no “profit,” i.e. benefit or advantage, if they were to gain the popularity of the world then in turn lose their spirit, vitality, or soul. Here Christ is equating spirit, vitality, or soul with spiritual life, something a great deal more valuable than the kudos of the world. Jesus is asking us the point blank question: if we sit well in the world at the expense of our spiritual life what have we gained? If it has cost us our spiritual life then we remain spiritually dead! And the spiritually dead will not be granted eternal salvation. “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’” - John 3:3.
    We must always remember that conforming to the world isn’t in our best interest,
spiritually. But the decision to conform remains solidly within our hearts. And we know from the words of holy Scripture that our hearts can only exist in one of two realms. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” - Matthew 6:21. Does our treasure consist of loving the world or does it consist of loving Christ? One way relies on human pride and  maintains mankind’s enmity with God; the other repents in humility and relies on God’s grace through the blood of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.