WHAT ABOUT YOUR SOUL
WHAT ABOUT YOUR SOUL?
INTRODUCTION
That man is composed of spirit, soul and body is clearly taught in the sacred scriptures. Sometimes in scripture, the spirit and soul are used interchangeably. Man cannot empirically (through the senses) verify that he has a soul. No scientist can go to the laboratory and produce the soul. The soul is God-given and is not the origination of man. The only way man knows he has a soul is because God has revealed that aspect of man from His inspired word. Man has been placed on this earth to make his decision to where he will live forever. He is in a “probationary” period and must make his decision now to where his soul will spend in eternity.
The Bible teaches the word “soul” is a generic term and has about four different senses in its usage. However, in this tract, I will be using it in the sense of the inner man, the spirit which dwells in the fleshly body and survives death.
THE VALUE OF YOUR SOUL: There are many things that we place tremendous value on. These “things” capsules man’s attention and reason for living. Many people feel in the absence of material things or the loss of those things that life is not worth living. However, the Bible teaches us that the things of this world are only temporal and will one day be destroyed (2 Peter 3: 10). Jesus gave us the right perspective of the value of the soul in contrast to the things of this world when asked: “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 soul is priceless! There is nothing in any amount worth the losing of one’s soul. There is nothing so great of value that you should give in exchange for your soul. But the chase of this world’s goods goes on to the neglect of the one thing that will last forever. God’s people, Christians, are not immune or exempt from the questions asked. In the Parable of the sower, Jesus describes the foolish pursuit, the “exchange” for the soul in the following: “Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful” (Matthew 13: 22). If you have placed those things as a priority in your life, I ask: “What About Your Soul?”
THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF YOUR SOUL: Because the soul derives its existence from God, we will one day have to give account for our soul in how we have lived in this body. “For we must all appear before the Judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5: 10). There is the frightening responsibility to secure our souls for good in this life.
In Luke chapter 12, we are introduced to a “certain rich man” (Luke 12: 16-21). This man, according to worldly standards, was very successful. He astutely prepared himself for his future. However, his mistake was three-fold. (1) He thought he knew the future. He said, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years…”; (2) He put his soul on vacation. He said, “And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry’” (vs. 19). God does not give the soul a vacation! (3) He left God out. “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (vs. 20-21). That night, his soul was “required” of him. He would now give account for his soul in that he was not rich toward God. Sadly, many have been caught in the same trappings as this rich fool. He planned for his future; but he did not plan for his eternity. There is coming a day when our souls will be “required.” If your life is lived in neglect of the most important matters, I ask: “What About Your Soul?”
THE DEPARTING OF YOUR SOUL: One day we will all give up this body to mother earth in death. The sobering thought of death is a subject no one likes to talk about. But the fact is, our bodies grow old and decay and we eventually die. But the soul never dies. As Rachel was giving birth, the scriptures describe her death. “And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin” (Genesis 35: 18). The scriptures declare that the body without the spirit is dead (James 2: 26). Solomon summarized, “Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12: 7). When the body dies, it will be buried; but the soul will go on to live forever. In the book of Revelation, there were those who had died for their faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. John writes: “…I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’” (Revelation 6: 9-10). Notice: John saw those souls who had been slain. And, those souls cried out saying… Their souls had departed but they were alive and well. Life ending does not end the soul. If you think this life is all there is, I ask: “What About Your Soul?”
THE DESTINY OF YOUR SOUL: In Luke chapter 16, God unveils the curtain of what happens to us after we die in the story of the rich man and Lazarus. Immediately after death, they found themselves still alive and conscious of their former lives. The rich man found himself in torment (vs. 23); Lazarus was in comfort (vs. 25). We will be in one of two places. And, wherever we end up, it will be forever. On that great Judgment scene, Jesus talks about the two places that man will go. “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matthew 25: 46). The Bible speaks of those two places as heaven and hell. To the righteous souls, Jesus said, “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven” (Matthew 5: 12). To the wicked souls, Jesus said, “Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell” (Matthew 23: 33)? Further, Jesus said, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10: 28). Man, in his pursuit of life, is headed in all directions. But one day, the soul will be headed to its destiny. If your destiny is just the seeking of pleasures in this life, I ask: “What About Your Soul?”
CONCLUSION:
Dear friend, will you please consider the grave importance given to the matter of your soul? The Bible teaches: “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9: 27). Will you in light of Bible teaching make your life right with God? By obeying God and entering His church (Acts 2: 38; Matthew 16: 18), and living righteously and godly in this life (Titus 2: 12-13), will result in our dying right to forever be with the Lord (Revelation 14: 13). With a sincere prayer, I ask you to consider these matters.
By Stacey Mobley