“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 16:26NKJV)
The significant of
asking Questions
Life is often defined by the questions we ask. The questions
we are asking often reveal what we are thinking – or the direction we are
going. Questions are the building blocks of comprehensive writing. The answers
to the questions that we ask are what build our life story. When it comes to
non-fiction writing – journalism in particular – there are 5 Ws which need to
be answered in any given news story: Who, What, Where, When, Why. And then,
sometimes, it is instructive to add an H – How.
The question is very
important--so is the answer. Apart from the Bible, there is no valid answer.
All human answers are vain and do not satisfy the longing soul. The Bible
answers these questions with the authority of God. Believe it or not, the kind
of questions you ask determine the kind of life you lead. That’s because your
questions activate its own set of answers, which lead to certain emotions,
which then lead to certain actions (or inactions), followed by results. If you
ask yourself limiting questions, you’ll get limited results. If you ask
yourself mind-opening, forwarding questions, you’ll gain a lot more out of
them.
People have long asked: what’s the origin of life? Where do we come from? Who am I? , Why am I here? Is there a God? Where am I going? What can I do? Is there life after death?" What is the world made of? What holds it together? What is truth? What is good and what is evil? What is moral code in relation to right and wrong? What is the meaning of life? What's our destiny? How do you find peace? When talking to people of all walks of life, we find that we differ most in opinion about the above questions but the Bible is the only reliable source that gives answers to all these questions.
People have long asked: what’s the origin of life? Where do we come from? Who am I? , Why am I here? Is there a God? Where am I going? What can I do? Is there life after death?" What is the world made of? What holds it together? What is truth? What is good and what is evil? What is moral code in relation to right and wrong? What is the meaning of life? What's our destiny? How do you find peace? When talking to people of all walks of life, we find that we differ most in opinion about the above questions but the Bible is the only reliable source that gives answers to all these questions.
Most people
unfortunately never struggle to think about or find answers for the basic
questions of existence and the origin, nature and destiny of life. The answers
to these questions will consciously or unconsciously condition, empower or
limit almost everything in that individual's life. Three of the most crucial questions
we can ask about life are these: Where did we come from? Why are we here? And
where will we go when we leave the earth? That last question is critical
because it has eternal consequences. Since God created us with souls that will
not die, and since God alone decides each person’s destiny, a fourth question
becomes necessary: How can I be sure I am in the right relationship with God?
Just as we as human beings ask questions about life, so the God who created and sustains all things asks questions. We have a choice, to start with the questions of God or with our own questions. God is the source and centre of all reality. There is no other alternate autonomous religious reality where we might meet him. We live and move and have all our being in his presence. The God who has called our life into being relates deeply with his creation. Everything that exists does so because God called it into being for his purposes. Hence the questions of the Bible are still the most important.
Just as we as human beings ask questions about life, so the God who created and sustains all things asks questions. We have a choice, to start with the questions of God or with our own questions. God is the source and centre of all reality. There is no other alternate autonomous religious reality where we might meet him. We live and move and have all our being in his presence. The God who has called our life into being relates deeply with his creation. Everything that exists does so because God called it into being for his purposes. Hence the questions of the Bible are still the most important.
God’s
first question
God begins His transactions
to the fallen man with a question. The first question is found in (Genesis 3:9)
“But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” Notice the importance of this question, Where are
you? “He said, “I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked.
And I hid.” (Genesis 3:10) Until you can answer that, in some sense at least,
there is no other option of moving forward or help. When a man is lost this is
the most important question he can ask: Where am I?
Man’s
first question found in the New Testament.
This first question
here in the Old Testament is matched by the first question asked in the New
Testament. Here it is God asking man, "Where
are you?" and in the New Testament, in Matthew, the first question
that appears is that of certain wise men who come asking, "Where is the one who has been born king of
the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." (Matthew
2:2). "Where is He?" Here we
must pause and consider the meaning of these powerful Question.
The story begins when
Jesus was born in a stable, city of Bethlehem. Sometime later, wise men,
or magi, from eastern countries saw a star in the sky that signaled the
birth of a new king. They came to Judea, the region around Jerusalem, to
worship Jesus, the new king. A man named Herod was the king of Judea. He called
the wise men to a meeting and told them to find the new king so he could go and
worship him, too.
The wise men continued
on to Bethlehem and followed the star until it was directly above the house
where Jesus was. They found Mary and Jesus in the house and knelt down to
worship Him. They brought Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, some of
the finest things in the ancient world.
The Jews were anxiously
looking for the coming of the Messiah. By computing the time mentioned by
Daniel (Dan 9:25-27), they knew that the period was approaching when he would
appear. It was natural that this expectation should spread into other
countries. Many Jews at that time lived in Egypt, in Rome, and in Greece; many,
also, had gone to Eastern countries, and in every place they carried their
sacred writings, and diffused the expectation that some remarkable person was
about to appear. Wise men question and consequent event shows five remarkable things:
(1) That they partook
of the general expectation that about this time there would appear in the East
a Ruler divinely appointed to his mission. The works of profane writers of this
period show that this expectation was general.
(2) It is plain that the wise men presumed the
mission of Christ and expected him to be a king.
(3) Star portrays that - Among the ancients
the appearance of a new star or comet was regarded as an omen of some
remarkable event. Many such
appearances are recorded by the Roman historians at the birth or death of
distinguished men.
(4)The worship depict
that they regarded him as the King of Jews and came to honor and worship Him as
a divinely appointed king.
(5) Finally it is in Matthew's account of the birth of
Jesus that we read this very beautiful and important phrase: "born
King." That is a very amazing statement by Matthew. When the queen of a
royal family gives birth to a male child he is born a prince. But this was not
so of our precious Lord! Jesus was born a King. But He is more than that!
According to the Apostle John in Revelation chapter 17 verses 14 Jesus is
called "Lord of lords and King of kings." Jesus is the ultimate Ruler
of the universe. Though the world has not recognized this as yet, I can assure
you one day it will. Listen to these words of the Apostle Paul: "Therefore
[because He stooped so low] God has highly exalted Him and has freely
bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, That in (at) the name
of Jesus every knee should (must) bow, in heaven and on earth and under
the earth, And every tongue [frankly and openly] confess and
acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. "(Philippians
2:9-11AMP).
God’s
second question
God's second question to man is even more significant: “God said, ““Who told you that you were
naked? Have you eaten from the
tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” (Genesis 3:11) God does not expect
any information, but it is a question designed to make Adam think. How do you
know this? The answer, of course, is: "No one told him." Well then,
how did he know? A change had occurred within him, and, instinctively, he
senses that change and knows something that he did not know before. An evil
knowledge has come to man, just as God said it would. The tree of which he
partook was the tree of "the knowledge of good and evil," and, by
partaking, man gained immediately an evil knowledge. From where did it come? It
came from within. This is what God wants Adam to see. Remember that Jesus said,
"It is not that which enters a man which defiles him, but that which comes
from within," (Matthew 15:11). "For from within," he says,
"out of the heart of man, proceed evil thoughts, fornication, murder,
adultery, covetousness, licentiousness, pride, foolishness, all these evil
things come from within and defile a man," (Matthew 15:18-19).
God’s
Third question
Now God moves to His third question, and it is in two parts, one
addressed to the man and one to the woman. “God said to the Woman, “What is this that
you’ve done?” (Genesis 3:12b) There is something very interesting here. God
asks both the same question, essentially. He is saying to each, "Tell me,
what it that you did is? Clearly; what is it that you did?" To the man he
is forthright and blunt. But to the woman he puts the question much more softly
and gently. It is comforting to realize how fully God understands women and to
see him put the question to her very gently. He says, "Tell me in your own
way now, what is this that you have done?" In their answer it is
significant that both of them come out at the same place. Each blames someone
else (we now call this human nature, it is so widespread, so universally true)
but when they come to their final statement they both use exactly the same
words, "and I ate." That is where God wants to bring them. That is
what the Bible calls repentance. God
has led them gently, graciously and yet unerringly to the place where each of
them, in his own way, has said, "Yes, Lord, I sinned; I ate." Bible
says “He that covers his sins shall not prosper: but whosoever confesses and
forsakes them shall have mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13)
God will never admit a sinful, rebellious
soul, into his kingdom. He that covers his
sins shall not prosper, God may cover a man's sins, and it is an instance of
his grace but a man may not cover his own: it is right in one good man to cover
the sins of another, reproving him secretly, and freely forgiving him; but it
is wrong in a man to cover his own: not that any man is bound to expose his
sins to the public, which would be to the hurt of his credit but whenever he is
charged with sin, and reproved for it, be should not cover it, that is, he
should own it; for not to own and acknowledge it is to cover it; he should not
deny it, which is to cover it with a lie, and is adding sin to sin; nor should
he justify it, as if he had done a right thing; nor excuse it, or impute it to
others that drew him into it,
Bible says “If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding
mine iniquity in my bosom:”(Job 31:33) for such a man "shall not
prosper"; in soul or body, in things temporal or spiritual; he shall not
have peace of mind and conscience; but, sooner or later, shall feel the stings
it; he shall not succeed even in those things he has in view by covering his sins;
he shall not be able to cover them long, for there is nothing covered but what
shall be revealed; if not in this life, which yet often is, however at the day
of judgment, when every secret thing shall be made manifest; nor shall he
escape the shame and punishment he thought to avoid by covering it, but whoso
confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy; sin is only in this sense to be
confessed to God, against it is committed, and who only can pardon it; and
though it is known unto him, yet he requires an acknowledgment of it, which
should be done from the heart, with an abhorrence of the sin, and in the faith
of Christ, as a sacrifice for it; and it is not enough to confess, there must
be a forsaking likewise, a parting with sin, a denying of sinful self, a
leaving the former course of sin, and a quitting the company of wicked men
before used to, and an abstaining from all appearance of evil But if he confesses his sin, with a penitent and
broken heart, and, by forsaking every evil way,
then God will have mercy on him and
he shall have salvation of the soul, .
Depravity of human nature and God's
search for wise
Psalm 14:1-3 we see a
description of the depravity of human nature, and the deplorable corruption of
a great part of mankind. “Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no
God.”They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not
one of them does good! The Lord looks down from
heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if
anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God. But no, all have turned
away; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not a single one!”
The sinner here described is an agnostic,
one that says there is no God ruling over the affairs of men. He says this in
his heart. He cannot satisfy himself that there is none, but wishes there were
none. This sinner is a fool and unwise, and this is evidence of it: he is
wicked and profane, and this is the cause. The word of God is a discerner of
these thoughts. No man will say, There is no God, till he is so hardened in
sin, that it is become his interest that there should be none to call him to an
account. The disease of sin has infected the whole race of mankind. They are
all gone aside, there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
“The LORD looks down
from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise,
if anyone seeks God. “ (Psalm 14:2) The
objects of the Lord's search are not wealthy men, great men, or learned men;
these, with all they can offer, cannot meet the demands of the great Governor:
at the same time, he is not looking for superlative eminence in virtue, he
seeks for any that understand themselves, their state, their duty, their
destiny, their happiness; he looks for any that seek God, who, if there be a God,
are willing and anxious to find him out. Surely this is not too great a matter
to expect; for if men have not yet known God, if they have any right
understanding, they will seek him.
God's all-seeing,
all-piercing eyes scrutinize the whole human race. Is there one who shows
discernment in thought and act, one to whom fellowship with God is the highest
good, and consequently that after which he strives? - When God asked Adam,
“Where are you?” he was asking him to “come out of hiding” to confess the truth
about his condition. Sin leads to the shame of alienation and ultimately to death.
"GOD IS SEARCHING FOR MAN--More than the other way around" Religion
is man searching for God; Incarnation of Jesus is the ultimate search of God for
man. The life of repentance teaches us that man should return to God, as did
the Prodigal Son when he returned to his father. He addressed himself,
saying:"I will arise and go to my father" (Luke 15:18).
The Creator of heaven
and earth finds His pleasure in seeking the dust and ashes! This gives us an
idea of the loving kindness of paternity and of the forgiveness of the tolerant
heart In searching for man, God used many different means among which some were
frightening, reproaching, convincing, and showing kindness and Judgment. The
most important thing to Him is to reach man's heart and find Himself a place
there. God's pleasure is man's love. He wants to rest in man's heart. When we understand that God is in
search of man (us), more so than man in search of God, our spiritual experience
is greatly enhanced. God, in
the form of man here on earth, Jesus Christ, searched for man.
Jesus Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:23-24).
He is not one of an infinite number of ways to God; He
is the way, the truth and the life. In John 14:6
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father,
but through Me.” That is “probably the most exclusive statement ever made by
anyone.” “And there is salvation in no
one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men
by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
The value of the Soul
Thus Jesus the redeemer
and savior of the world invite us to consider this Question alertly, “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 16:26NKJV)
This is one of the most
vital questions ever asked. It is also found in the hearts of all thinking
people. This question has been asked in different forms, but in all its forms
it amounts to the same thing that is the ultimate salvation of the mankind. The
Lord Jesus Christ stated it this way: “What good will it be for someone to gain
the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange
for their soul?” With these words of Jesus we are reminded of the incredible
value of your soul.
Jesus said that all
earthly possessions, position, pleasure, and power are not worth of the value
of your soul! It is the most valuable possession one has. This means that a
man's soul has more value than the whole visible world. And if a man loses his
soul, with what can he make payment, with what can he buy it back again?
If he shall gain the
whole world; all that is precious and valuable in it; all the power, pleasures,
and riches of it; if with Alexander, he had the government of the whole world,
and with Solomon, all the delights of it; and was possessed with the popularity
and the wealth of people like Bill gates, and Carlos Slim Helu , and lose our
own soul? If that should be consigned to everlasting torment and misery, be
banished the divine presence, and continually feel the gnawing of the worm of
conscience that never dies, and the fierceness of the fire of God's wrath, that
shall never be quenched, he will have a miserable bargain of it. Or what shall
a man give in exchange for his soul? Or, "for the redemption" of it,
Not even if he gives the whole world can he buy his lost soul. Therefore he who
saves his soul will save everything, and he who loses his soul will lose
everything. Jesus teaches here a "the Utmost Wisdom of Redemption” -- a
wisdom that calls us to surrender our lives to the will of God, live for him,
and serve others. It is in giving up our lives for something and someone
greater that we truly find life. The radical example and call of Jesus is to
follow him in laying down our lives to honor God and redeem others -- there are
no short-cuts. The cross casts its shadow over all of us. Now let us look at
the spiritual reality and the revelation of God in the light of God’s word.
Significance
in the Creation Story
“Then God said, “Let Us
make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion
over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle,
over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the
earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the
image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis
1:26–27)
This sweeping statement
of the creation of man is both profound and perplexing. In part it answers
the question of why man is unique in all creation. When God created man in His
own image, He gave him a distinctive nature and place in creation (Genesis 5:3;
9:6; I Corinthians 15:39; James 3:9). Man "is the image and glory of
God" (I Corinthians 11:7), "made a little lower than the angels and
[God] has crowned him with glory and honour" (Psalm 8:5; cf. Hebrews 2:9).
As sovereign among the creatures, man had dominion over everything on earth
(Genesis 1:26, 28). The spiritual nature of man reflects God's image. This
means man has a "spirit and soul and body" (I Thessalonians 5:23).
Soul and spirit seem to be two distinctive features: Mary said "My soul
doth magnify the Lord; And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour"
(Luke 1:46, 47); the writer of Hebrews speaks of the word of God being able to
divide the "soul and spirit" (Hebrews 4:12). These scriptures seem to
indicate the soul and spirit are two different identities. Jesus comments that
"thou shalt love the Love thy God with all thy heart and with all thy
soul. And with all thy mind" (Matthew 22:37) shows still other aspects
(heart, mind) of mans being. Man was given intellect, which means he could
think and reason. As a rational being, man was unique in creation and clearly
distinct from the animals.
To be like someone
means you possess many, but not all of the characteristics of that person.
Obviously, man does not possess God's omnipotence, wisdom, perfection, ability
to create, and divineness. It is a likeness mentally, morally, and socially.
Mentally, man was created as a rational, volitional agent. In other words, man
can reason and man can choose. This is a reflection of God’s intellect and
freedom. God has given man free will, which likewise reflects God's image.
Every man has the ability to choose for himself his actions. He is morally
aware. Morally, man was created in righteousness and perfect innocence, a
reflection of God’s holiness. Our conscience or “moral compass” is a vestige of
that original state. Whenever someone writes a law, recoils from evil, praises
good behavior, or feels guilty, he is confirming the fact that we are made in
God’s own image. Man understands that certain things are good and certain
things are evil. Socially, man was created for fellowship. This reflects
God's triune nature and His love. Every time someone exposes divine love,
he is demonstrating the fact that we are made in the likeness of God.
The creation of mankind
adds special significance in the Creation Story. Man was created in the image of God- describes an exact resemblance, like a son who is
the very image of his father. Having the “image” or “likeness” of God
means, in the simplest terms, we were made to resemble God. “God is
spirit” (John 4:24) the image of God refers to the immaterial part of man
and enables him to commune with his Maker. The image of God in man means he was
"created in the divine character, righteousness and true holiness"
(Ephesians 4:24; cf. Colossians 3:10). Man therefore would have had a natural
tendency to do what is right. In his moral perfection, man had free and open
communion and fellowship with his Maker. Man walked and talked with God in the
Garden of Eden. Part of being made in God’s image is that Adam had the capacity
to make free choices. Although Adam was given a righteous nature, he made an
evil choice to rebel against his Creator. In so doing, Adam marred the image of
God within himself, and he passed that damaged likeness on to all his
descendants. Today, we still bear the image of God (James 3:9), but we also
bear the scars of sin. Mentally, morally, socially, and physically, we show the
effects of sin.
Genesis chapter three
is vital to understand the present condition of human because it alone explains
things as they are. When Adam and Eve rebelled, man was
separated from Heavenly father through sin. Whenever we sin, there are
consequences that come as a result of the sin. Some of those consequences are
spiritual and some are physical. When Adam and Eve sinned they experienced both
physical and spiritual consequences (Genesis 3).Our world is a blend of both
beauty and beastliness, of loveliness and that which is ugly. The beauty which
remains is evidence of the goodness and greatness of the God who created all
things (Romans 8:1-30). The ugliness is the evidence of man’s sinfulness
(Romans 1:18-31). There is much to be learned here about sin. Essentially sin
is disobedience. The seriousness of sin can be seen in two significant facts; first,
sin is serious because of its roots. The eating of the forbidden fruit was not
the essence of the sin, but merely its expression. It is not the source of sin,
but its symbol. So the root of the sin of Adam and Eve was rebellion, unbelief,
and ingratitude. Their act was a deliberate choice to disobey a clear
instruction from God. It refused to gratefully accept the good things as from
God and the one prohibition as for their good as well. Secondly, sin is serious
because of its fruits. Adam and Eve did not experience a higher form of
existence, but shame and guilt. It did not provide them with more to enjoy, but
spoiled what they previously experienced without shame. Worse yet, it brought
about the downfall of the entire race. The beginnings of the effects of the
fall are seen in the rest of the Bible. We see the results of that sin today,
in our lives and in society. The result of sin is judgment. That judgment is
both present and future.
Redemption
of the soul
Bible states that “The
ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough”-- Psalm 49:8 –
The word "life" here means "soul," and
not the immortal part. The only question which the psalmist here considers is
the value of wealth in preserving "life," or in saving man from the
grave. For the redemption of their soul is precious - It is of too high a price
to be redeemed with corruptible things, such as silver or gold, and has
required the sacrificial death of Christ. You may ask why? Now
think about the remarkable and phenomenal thing it is to be you! Of all the
people who have come and gone on the earth, since the beginning of time, not
ONE of them is like YOU.
King David said “I praise you because I am fearfully and
wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”(Psalm
139:14) When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The
moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that
You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the
angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to
have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put
all things under his feet,( Psalm 8:3–8) Your soul is a
priceless treasure. There are certain vital other facts also that make our
life valuable:
No one who has ever
lived or is to come has had your combination of abilities, talents, appearance,
friends, acquaintances, burdens, sorrows and opportunities. No one’s finger
prints are like yours. You are absolutely unique and exceptional! You do not
have to pretend in order to seem more like someone else. You weren’t meant to
be like someone else. You were meant to be different. Nowhere ever in all of
history will the same things be going on in anyone’s mind, soul and spirit as
are going on in yours right now. If you did not exist, there would be a hole in
creation, a gap in history, something missing from the plan for humankind. No
one can reach out to others in the same way that you can. No one can speak your
words. No one can convey your meanings. No one can comfort with your kind of
comfort. No one can bring your kind of understanding to another person. No one
can be cheerful and lighthearted and joyous in your way. No one can smile your
smile. No one else can bring the whole unique impact of you to another human
being. Treasure your uniqueness. It is a gift given only to you. Enjoy it and
share it! Let it be free to flow out
among your family and friends and people you meet in the rush and clutter of
living wherever you are. That gift of yourself was given you to enjoy and share
hence the ransom for a life is
costly, no payment is ever enough-.
Now God’s holiness
required Punishment and payment (atonement) for sin, which was (and still
is) eternal death. Our death is not sufficient to cover the payment for sin.
Only a perfect, spotless sacrifice, offered in just the right way, can pay for our
sin. Jesus, the perfect God-man, came to offer the pure, complete and
everlasting sacrifice to remove, atone, and make eternal payment for sin. The
result of their sin was their awareness of their nakedness. They lost their
innocence. In their embarrassment, they tried to cover themselves by making
some sort of clothing. Even with their fig leaf garment, they still felt naked.
God knew what had happened, but he wanted Adam and Eve to understand and admit
their sin. When people make mistakes, there are two responses to the sin.
Either they acknowledge their sin or they try to hid it. The last consequence
of Adam and Eve's sin was deportation from the Garden. As a gesture of
kindness, God replaced their inadequate fig leaf garments with tunics made of
animal skins. This may have been the first death after their sin, when an
animal was killed to produce the skins for Adam and Eve's clothing. The
physical consequence to sin will vary with the sin that is committed. However,
the spiritual consequence remains the same; "for the wages of sin is
death" (Romans 6:23). The solution to the spiritual consequence of sin is
also the same, no matter what the sin, "the gift of God is eternal life in
Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).
Man’s sin has turned
God’s creation inside-out. The only solution is for God to do something to
bring about redemption and restoration. This has been accomplished in Jesus
Christ. The penalties for man’s sins have been borne by Him. The consequences
for Adam’s sins need not destroy us. The choice which confronts us is this: Do
we wish to be united with the first Adam or the last? In the first Adam we are
constituted sinners and are subject to physical and spiritual death. In the
last we become new creatures, with eternal life (physical and spiritual). God
has not placed two trees before us, but two men: Adam and Christ. We must
decide with whom we will identify. In one of these two our eternal future
rests. What kept Adam and Eve from everlasting blessing was their desire to
have pleasure at the cost of unbelief and disobedience. Such, Paul writes, was
also the case with Israel (I Cor 10:1-5). The same temptations face us, but God
has given us sufficient means to be have victory. What are these means? No good
thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11).
Did you know that when
God made you, God breathed into your nostrils what the Bible calls, "the
breath of life?" And you became, “a living soul, made in the image of God.
After God created man out of the
elements of the earth, He "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life;
and man became a living soul" (Genesis 2:7). As a result of this divine
action, man has both a material and a spiritual nature. You are not a body; you
have a body. The body is the house in which your soul is. The body will one day
die. It will be put in the ground and it will decay. But your soul, made in the
image of God will last for eternity. When the sun, the moon, the stars have
fallen out of orbit, when the sun has become a cinder, when time shall be no
more, your soul will be in existence somewhere, either in heaven or
hell--timeless, dateless, measureless; your soul, made in the image of God will
exist forever and ever and ever and ever. That's why the Lord Jesus Christ
asked the question we quoted in our text.
Death
and Judgment
Bible says “Life,
lovely while it lasts, is soon over. Life as we know it, precious and
beautiful, ends. The body is put back in the same ground it came from. The
spirit returns to God, who first breathed it. (Ecclesiastes 12:6-7MSG)
A serious assessment of
the logical and philosophical evidence for the existence of two realties, Seen
and the unseen, the material and the immaterial will lead us to conclude that
there is an immaterial reality, and we DO possess this thing we have come to
know as the “soul”. But natural revelation and human reasoning will only bring
us so far, and these must always eventually default to SPECIAL revelation in
order to understand the precise nature of the world in which we live. While we
are encouraged as Christians that there is never a conflict between natural
revelation and special (Biblical) revelation, we do understand the priority
here. We don't know when death will come for each of us, but we all will die.
Death is the great equalizer. It is no respecter of persons. It doesn't matter
if you are young or old, if you are a man or a woman, if you are rich or poor.
Death knocks at every door.
At death, Body returns
to its original earth; it becomes immediately a cloud of earth, a lifeless lump
of clay, and is then buried in the earth, where it rots, corrupts, and turns
into it; which shows the frailty of man, and may serve to humble his pride, as
well as proves that death is not an annihilation even of the body; and the
spirit shall return unto God who gave it; from whom it is, by whom it is
created, who puts it into the bodies of men, as a deposit urn they are
entrusted with, and are accountable for, and should be concerned for the safety
and salvation of it; this was originally breathed into man at his first
creation, and is now formed within him by the Lord; hence he is called the God
of the spirits of all flesh; Now at death the soul, or spirit of man, returns
to God; which if understood of the souls of men in general, it means that at
death they return to God the Judge of all, who passes sentence on them, and
orders those that are good to the mansions of bliss and happiness, and those
that are evil to hell and destruction. So "that it may stand in judgment
before the Lord;''
The Bible teaches the
following basic principles - in fact, it is the entire Theme of the Bible: Man,
in his natural state, is sinful and has transgressed against a Holy God - a God
Who is Infinitely Just. Jesus came to free us from self-centeredness, from sin,
from the curse, from death. This wonderful freedom and new life, while it cost
God dearly, is free to us. As the children of Israel trusted in the blood of
the lamb in Egypt, the only way we can be free is through a similar act of
simple faith - placing our trust, our very lives, solely and completely in the
Blood of the Lamb that Jesus Christ gave on the cross for you and for me. Jesus
Christ IS God - therefore His Payment was
Infinite: One Death by an Infinite Being = Infinite
Payment. God has offered Every Man and Woman access to the Infinite Payment
made by Jesus - simply by turning around from wherever we were heading, turning
to Christ, and accepting Forgiveness from His Hand. Hell - and the Eternal Lake
of Fire - is reserved for Every Man and Woman who decide to ignore the offer of
Jesus and decide to pay for their transgressions against God by their own
Eternal
life
Jesus said in John
8:51“Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see
death.” Did you notice that we have a powerful promise here? When we place our
trust in Christ we will NEVER see death. Our bodies may cease to function, but
there will NEVER be a time when we could be considered DEAD. The question is:
“Do we live beyond the grave, beyond the physical life?” Does the TRUE person
die when the body dies? The scriptures seem to answer that question in a
straightforward manner: Matthew 10:28-“And do not fear those who kill the body,
but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy
both soul and body in hell.”
2 Corinthians 5:1-8-For
we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a
building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For
indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from
heaven; inasmuch as we, having put it on, shall not be found naked. For indeed
while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to
be unclothed, but to be clothed, in order that what is mortal may be swallowed
up by life. Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us
the Spirit as a pledge. Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing
that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord — for we walk
by faith, not by sight — we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be
absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.
In the above passages,
it is evident that there is a clear distinction between the body and the soul
as well as few important aspects of life.
First of all that the
Soul is Immortal and there are two realities in the universe: the unseen,
immaterial, spiritual realm and the visible, physical, material world. The soul
DOES exist and, in fact, WE ARE LIVING SOULS. We live even when our bodies die.
Second aspect is Souls
Return to God. The spiritual world is the realm of God, and as living souls, we
are spiritual beings. Therefore it shouldn’t surprise us to read that the
moment we are NOT living in the physical world housed in our bodies, we WILL be
living in the spiritual world with God. (Luke 16:19-31, Luke 23:39-43, 2
Corinthians 5:1-8)
Third aspect is Souls
Are Active. Even after our bodies die, as living souls, we are not passively
waiting for our resurrection bodies. In the time between our physical death and
our resurrection at the Second Coming of Christ, we will no be in a state of
dormancy. We will be active and available to God (Ecclesiastes 12:5-7, Matthew
17:1-3)
Fifth fact is Souls Interact and experiences.
Souls are aware of each other in the spiritual realm. They are able to
fellowship and communicate with each other, but Heaven and Hell are separate
invisible realms. It is possible, for example, for the soul to experience great
joy and great torment (Luke 16:19-31)
And finally the Souls
Are Subject to God’s Judgment. Physical death does not end our life. God has
complete control over our life (as a living soul), and our final death is NOT
dependent on our body, but IS dependent on our relationship with God through
Jesus Christ. (Luke 23:39-43, John 11:17-26, John 8:51)
If you love life, I
plead you to lay hold on Christ at once, that your soul may be saved. Why not
do it today? Why not this day join yourself to the Lord Jesus in an everlasting
covenant which cannot be broken? Why not resolve, before tomorrow's sun dawns,
to turn from the service of sin, and turn to Christ? Why not go to Christ this
very day, and cast your soul on Him, with all its sins and all its unbelief,
with all its doubts and all its fears?
The good news is that
when God redeems an individual, He begins to restore the original image of God,
creating a “new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and
holiness” (Ephesians 4:24). That redemption is only available by God’s grace
through faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior from the sin that separates us from
God (Ephesians 2:8-9). Through Christ, we are made new creations in the
likeness of God (2 Corinthians 5:17). Eternity is endless, dateless and
measureless. The soul that God has given us will be in heaven or hell
throughout eternity. The fact that we are made in the image of God makes
us uniquely distinct from the rest of God’s creation. Our souls will exist for
eternity, either in Heaven or in Hell.(Daniel 12:2).
For your salvation,
there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus who
gave himself as a ransom for all men. (1 Tim. 2:5-6). Although Jesus died for
all people’s sins, you cannot receive God’s forgiveness and pardon unless you
personally receive this forgiveness through repentance and faith in Jesus. If
you refuse, it is painful for God and you will not be saved. Repentance is more
than confession. It is being truly sorry for and forsaking sin. The blood of
Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sins. Without the pouring out of blood, there
is no forgiveness for sins. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 Jn. 1:9).
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the evil man his thoughts and let him return
unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will
abundantly pardon (Isa. 55:7).
Jesus said, “Except you repent, you will all likewise perish (Lk. 13:3,5).
Repent Means:- Turn to God and forsake your sins.
1. Turn from sin. Gal: 5:19-21; Eph. 5:5; 1 Cor. 6:9-10.
2. Turn from the world. 1 John 2:15; James 4;4.
3. Turn from self. 2 Cor. 5;15; Luke 14:26.
4. Turn from the devil. Luke 4:1-13; James 4:7.
5. Turn from all other idol. 1 Thess. 1:9-10; Rev. 21;8.
6. Turn from evil deeds. Mark 1:17;
7. Make restitution where necessary. Luke 19:8.
Jesus said, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). Your sins will be forgiven and your heart will be cleansed by the blood of Christ.(John 1:7,9). The Bible says that God gives eternal life to those repent toward God and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ Acts. 20:21).
Jesus knocks at the door of your heart and He wants to come into your heart. “Behold I stand at the door and knock; if any one hear my voice and open the door I will come into him”. (Rev. 3:20). “I am the light of the world; whoever follows me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life”. (John 8:12). Believe in the light that you may become children of light. (John 12:36).
Beloved Reader, “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?" The single most valuable Prayer you can pray from the depth of your heart to God is: “Dear Jesus, I accept that, I am a sinner and confess my sins I believe that you Died for my Sins, Rose from the Dead and Will Come Again. Please forgive my sins. Jesus, come into my heart and be the Lord of my life. I accept you as my Personal Savior and Lord.”
Please do write for more information and prayer