In a recent post, I spent some time on the soul and how having a soul separates us from other animals and from things…….how having a soul makes man unique on this planet……..and quite possibly in the universe.
But what is your soul? What are its characteristics?
Here are a few of its features:
It is permanent………eternal. You can ignore it……but you cannot get rid of your soul…….and, perhaps more importantly, you cannot get rid of mine. You cannot define away somebody else’s soul. This was tried in the antebellum South…….and, to an extent, still goes on today in the abortion debate. Because it is eternal, you cannot destroy it. Even your death will not destroy it. As near as I can tell, even God does not destroy souls.
Your soul existed before you did…….it existed before you were conceived. This is why abortion is a problem for Christians. This is why abortion is a problem for everyone. In a way, your body is a temporary vessel that contains your soul.
It is precious………the most valuable thing that you posses. In fact because your soul is so valuable……..you too are valuable……..but, so is everybody else. No matter how low on the totem pole somebody is……..no matter how offensive their behavior………they too are valuable. This may be why even God does not destroy souls. Your soul is more valuable……..more important……..than your body.
It was created by God. In a manner of speaking, it belongs to him………..and he can do with it as he pleases.
It has a destiny……..in fact it has one of two destinies…….paradise and hell.
Your soul guides you in your behaviour……but it does not dictate your behaviour. It is very easy to override the guidance that your soul provides. The first time you do this it is vaguely uncomfortable. Unfortunately, the more often you ignore your soul or override it, the easier it gets. Of the person who listens to his soul and hurts when he overrides it…….we say he has a conscience. Of the person who habitually ignores it…….we say “he has no soul”………but of course he does have a soul, he just keeps it locked away where it cannot interfere with his appetites.
You and your soul are inseparable. God created your soul. But, you manage it……every day……and you are responsible for how you manage it. You are solely responsible for its destiny. Because what happens to your soul affects you, the fate, the destiny of your soul represents your future.
You need to safeguard your soul.
By safeguarding your soul, you safeguard its destiny…….you safeguard your destiny.
whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?
Jesus (explaining the value of your soul), NIV
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
“‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
Jesus (describing souls in heaven and hell), NIV
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;
God (explaining Jeremiah’s soul to him), NIV