BATTLE FOR THE SOUL
INTRODUCTION
Battle for the soul is ongoing due to iniquity (sinfulness), with its destructive policies, attempting to offset godly influence. There is a flood of ungodliness towards withdrawing from the common decency of man, towards entrapment of the soul, though acceptance of ungodly traits being extended that are condemned in God’s Word.
There is a pollution of the soul being enhanced by modern day technology; a reprogramming process to help nurture one towards acceptance of ungodly ways that would destroy basic morality of the past. There is a targeting of the youth, with a cancel culture, to eliminate all that is of moral and biblical value. Thank God for those who are in open opposition towards the influence of the ungodly.
Battle for the Soul
Final Resting Place
Definition of the soul is noted as a word commonly used in the Bible to designate the non-material ego of man in its ordinary relationship with earthly and physical things; the immoral part of man. The body at death returns to the dust, and the non-material self (soul) which, if regenerate (in a saved condition) goes to paradise (heaven); if not then to the abode of the wicked dead (Hell).
Jesus said: What is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his own soul (Matthew 16:26)? There is an ongoing battle for the soul that would point man towards the final destiny of Heaven or Hell.
It was noted that there are those who are seeking their own profit; all that is precious and valuable to them, power, pleasures, and riches. The lost soul of man is irrecoverable; when judgment is pronounced, and if committed to Hell, it can never be altered. Today is the day of salvation, tomorrow may be too late.
Soul Survives the Body
Jesus said: Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear him (God) who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:28). It was noted that the soul survives the body, lives in a separate state, while the body is returned to the dust of the earth.
Apostle John wrote: Fear him which is able to destroy both body and soul in Hell is a description of the power of God; to destroy both body and soul in Hell, with everlasting burning, in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone (Revelation 21:8).
Rush towards Destruction
We are living in an age as in the pre-Flood days of Noah, Sodom and Gomorrah, and Babylon which was the hold of every foul spirit. There is an onrush towards destruction of body and soul; unless realization comes forth as to the reality of such.
Apostle John wrote: All that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world. The world passes away, and the lust thereof; but he that does the will of God abides forever (1 John 2:16-17).
World signifies the evil desire and sin that is so much a part of human existence. There is advancement towards lust of the flesh, and lust of the eyes, that far exceeds that of yesteryear. There is allowance being made towards the sinful nature of man; with the godliness of man no longer identified as before, due to failure in preaching and teaching God’s Unadulterated (Pure) Word without compromise.
An Uncertain Sound
Apostle Paul wrote: If the trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to battle (1 Corinthians 14:8)? The Prophet Joel, in speaking the words of the Lord: Blow the trumpet in Zion, sound an alarm in my holy mountain; let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord comes and is near at hand (Joel 2:1).
The trumpet was used for various purposes but in this instance it was to be blown because of the seriousness of the crisis before the people. Today, the sound of the trumpet often gives an uncertain sound; if blown at all. The battle for the soul is ongoing; but many have become immune to the sounding of an alarm because they relish the ungodliness that is consuming the land.
Growing at Ease
There are those who have grown at ease in sin. They have had their conscience seared (1 Timothy 4:2) with the constant flow of immorality presented as good for the soul. No wonder the younger generation has lost its sense of direction. No wonder many have lost the integrity that existed in past generations.
There are those who are holding back, as many continue to drift away from the moral compass of yesteryear, heading for the wrath of God. Apostle Paul wrote: The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold (suppress) the truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18).
Flames of Wrath
Jonathan Edwards sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” contained these words: Consider the fearful danger that you are in: You hang by a slender thread, with the flames of divine wrath flashing about it, and ready every moment to singe it, and burn it asunder. You have no interest in any mediator, and nothing to hold on to save yourself, nothing to keep the flames of wrath away.
There is nothing of your own, nothing that you have done, nothing that you can do, to induce God to spare you one moment. Those words still ring loud and clear today towards endangered souls who are about to descend into eternity without the benefit of a Savior (the Lord Jesus Christ), unless repentance comes prior to Judgment Day.
Concern for the Soul
It was noted that a man has to think of his soul before everything else (Leo Tolstoy). In the hour in which we live many have reversed that saying by putting everything else before salvation of the soul. There is a daily bombardment towards unconcern for the eternal state of man; with rewarding sinfulness, rather than expose its pathway of destruction. It was noted that we are suffering from the corrosive, immoral breath of the 21st century.
The secularism, humanism, materialism, liberalism, and commercialism of our day have devastated our resources of security. The home, once the primary source of stability has become a battleground. The church has forfeited its power because of worldliness. In the battle for the soul; many are losing out to the enemy of one’s soul (Satan), towards the temporal pleasures of the sinful nature of man, introduced through the cunning devices of satanic influence.
A man of God was asked: If given an hour to explain the Gospel to someone, how would he do so? He said he would spend the first fifty minutes on the bad news of judgment and then the last ten minutes on the good news of salvation, because without the context of judgment one would not appreciate or even understand salvation. In his answer underlies the reality of a deep concern for the soul of man.
Wise and Foolish
Contrasted
The Book of Proverbs gives a contrast between the wise and foolish in reference to the battle of the soul: The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish; but he cast away the substance (desire) of the wicked (Proverbs 10:3). The righteous eats to the satisfying of the soul; but the belly of the wicked shall want Proverbs 13:25). Apostle James wrote: Lay aside all filthiness and superfluity (abundance) of naughtiness (wickedness), and receive with meekness the engrafted (implanted) word, which is able to save your souls (James 1:21).
Scripture reveals how Lot (the nephew of Abraham) made a poor decision when given a choice where to abide, having chosen to dwell in the cities of the plain, pitching his tent towards (as far as) Sodom. Scripture reveals: The men of Sodom were wicked and sinners (sinful) before the Lord exceedingly (Genesis 13:13). Apostle Peter revealed: God turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemning them with an overthrow (destruction), making them an example to those that after (afterward) should live ungodly (2 Peter 2:6).
Deliverance of the Soul
The Psalmist David wrote: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want; He restores my soul; he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Who shall stand in his holy place; he that has clean hands, and a pure heart; who has not lifted up his soul into vanity (sinfulness), nor sworn deceitfully (Psalm 24:1-4).
Jesus extended an invitation to the wayward: I stand at the door (door of one’s heart) and knock; if any man (invitation to all) hear my voice, and open the door (only you can); I will come in to him, and will sup (dine) with him, and he with me (Revelation 3:20); I answered that invitation with an inner peace engulfing my soul! Jesus said: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world gives, give I to you (John 14:27). The battle for the soul was won, Satan lost, and there was rejoicing of the angels in heaven on that eventful day (Luke 15:7). I pray if you have not already accepted Jesus’ invitation, you will do so.
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