The soul is defined in religion and philosophy as the immaterial, animating essence of a living being, frequently believed to be immortal and distinct from the physical body. It is largely considered the seat of human consciousness, individuality, emotions, and the moral mind. In Christianity the soul represents the spiritual principle of humans that unites the body and spirit. Often interpreted as the "mind, will, and emotions," it is considered the image of God and is widely viewed as surviving death. Our soul is the core of who we are. Our physical body will experience death and decay. However, our soul will not.
What we do here on earth has eternal consequences. Our soul will either spend eternity with God or without Him. We get to choose our eternal destination. What we choose today will impact our eternal existence. Jesus poses the question, “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Mark 8:36). What are we giving up for worldly possession? What is sacrificed for power? What about pleasure? Our “me first” societal mindset is evidence of people forfeiting their soul just to gain the things of this world. I’m not saying the we should give up on self-care. Taking care of ourselves is honoring God. The apostle Paul had this to say, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). We have an obligation to care for ourselves. This includes body, mind, and spirit.
The “me first” culture is doing as I please at all costs. A “me first” attitude replaces God as head of our lives. We become the ruler of our lives. When we chase the things of this world more than we chase God we gain the whole world, yet forfeiting our soul. God needs to be the first and most sought after in our lives. Eternity rests on this. Look at your actions, the words you speak, the things you are chasing. It will tell you a lot about what you wish to gain. The sad thing is many choose the world over God. Many people are forfeiting their soul in order to gain the whole world. This world isn’t going to last forever, and in light of the events in the Mideast, this world may be close to ending. Jesus will return. Our souls will live forever. The decision we must make is this: do we forfeit our soul for the world? Or, do we chase after God and spend eternity with Him?
Add comment
Comments