DESTINY OF THE
SOUL
INTRODUCTION
Destiny of the soul is of extreme importance towards the final resting place of every individual after departure of the soul from its earthly body! Apostle Paul gave acknowledgement of the soul's final resting place upon receiving Christ into one's heart and life: For we know that if our earthly (prepared) house of this tabernacle (body) were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens (2 Corinthians 5:1).
It was noted that earthly represents that which is on earth, with the physical body referred to as a earthly house, because it is from the earth and will one day return to it. The reference as the building of God, is speaking of a glorified body being resurrected, through the righteousness of Christ, and redemption of body and soul, upon acceptance of Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior!
Destiny of the Soul
Resurrection and Destination
Jesus noted: They shall come forth; they that have done good, to the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, to the resurrection of damnation (condemnation) (John 5:29). It was noted that the resurrection of life is unto everlasting life, glory, and happiness, to those in communion with God and Christ; while others, who have rejected the salvation of the soul message, are condemned to everlasting punishment!
Scripture reveals: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son (the Lord Jesus Christ), that whosoever believes in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God (John 3:18). Apostle John wrote: He that believes in the Son has everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides (remains) on him (John 3:36).
Apostle Peter noted: The Lord is not slack concerning his promise (destruction of the ungodly), as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). It was noted that this clearly expresses God's desire for the salvation of all who will trust in Him for salvation, through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. The destiny of the soul towards eternal life is dependent on that choice!
Flames of Divine
Wrath
Jonathan Edwards sermon, Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God, contain 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, nothing of your own, nothing that you have done, nothing you can do, to induce God to spare you one moment. Those words 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 into focus prior to Judgment Day!
The Soul of Man
In reference to the soul of man it is noted that soul refers to the immortal part of man. The body, which at death returns to the earth (from which it was created), awaits the resurrection (coming of Christ); if regenerate (in a saved condition through Christ), it goes to paradise (Heaven); if not, to the abode of the wicked dead until Judgment Day.
Quotes concerning the destiny of the soul: The body is dust; the soul is a bud of eternity (Nathanael Culverwel). Every man decides the way his soul shall go (John Oxenham). God trusts every one with the care of his own soul (Scottish proverb). A man has to think of his soul before everything else (Leo Tolstoy).
Valley of Decision
Prophet Joel noted that there were multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision; for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision (Joel 3:14). It was noted that this is in reference to the judgment of nations; in the valley of decision the multitudes are in the midst of making a decision in favor of the Lord and repenting of their sin; for those not of such a demeanor, judgment will be handed out against them in the Day of the Lord.
The destiny of nations is still in the hands of a sovereign God. Sin shortens the existence of both governments and individuals. Unless one heeds to Biblical insight, and the lessons of history, a calamity can come upon as suddenly and even more devastating than came to the God-defying Belshazzar and his drunken associates (Daniel 5:27) who were weighed in the balance and found wanting!
Break Up Fallow
Ground
The Prophet Hosea cried out: Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy (faithfulness); break up your fallow (untilled) ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. You have reaped iniquity (lawlessness); you have eaten the fruit of lies; because you did trust in your own way, in the multitude of your mighty men (Hosea 10:12-13).
It was noted that this verse established the destiny of the soul; dependent on the choice of one's pursuit of life on earth. It encourages one to break up their fallow ground; ground unopened, unbroken, not tilled, not sown with seed of faith, being destitute of grace, full of sin and wickedness, which stands in need of being renewed, in the spirit of one's mind and soul, towards salvation of the soul!
Plowing Wickedness
It was noted that one who plows wickedness; contrives it, sows it, reaps iniquity. In the process of such; other sins spring up, a large harvest of them, for wickedness is of an increasing nature; grows worse and worse proceeding into more ungodliness! Apostle Paul wrote: Evil men, and seducers shall wax (grow) worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived (2 Timothy 3:13)!
We are seeing a manifestation towards the destiny of the soul that is not profitable; rather destructive in nature because it leads others towards falling into the same mold of acceptance that will only increase the size of Hell, unless repentance comes prior to Judgment Day.
Prophet Isaiah noted: Hell has enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure; and their glory and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoices (in iniquity), shall descend into it (Isaiah 5:14).
Worldly Gain in Life
Jesus asked: What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul (Mark 8:36-27)? The destiny of the soul requires an individual to examine the motive towards what is sought after; as one travels on the road of earthly existence.
Jesus gave a parable of a rich man, of the wrong priority, in saying: The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, what shall I do, because I have no room where to store my crops? And he said this will I do: I will tear down my barns and build greater; and there will I store all my crops and my goods.
The rich man said: Soul, eat, drink, and be merry! Jesus' response: You fool, this night shall your soul be required of you; then whose shall these things be, which you have provided? So is he that lays up treasures for himself, and is not rich toward God (Luke 12:21). Again, what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul (Mark 8:36)?
Grasping for the
Wind
King Solomon, having abundance and wealth, came to the conclusion: I looked upon all the works that my hands had accomplished, and on the labor that I had labored (toiled) to do: and behold all was vanity (futility) and vexation (a grasping for the wind) of spirit, and there is no profit under the sun (Ecclesiastes 2:11).
He responded with: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment (destiny of the soul), with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). Again, what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul (Mark 8:36)?
It was noted that the soul is immortal and everlasting; while the world, and the glory of it, passes away with the destiny of the soul of greater value that allowing worldly gain to be the controlling factor! The world can only be enjoyed for a season but the soul continues forever; and if lost, its torment always abides, and the smoke of it ascends forever, where the fire is never quenched (Hell). Scripture reveals: It is appointed to men once to die (physical death) but after this the judgment (Hebrews 9:27).
Standing before God
The Apostle John wrote: I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God: and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things written in the books, according to their works (Revelation 20:12). And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire (Hell) (Revelation 20:15).
It was noted that the dead are the unbelieving dead of all ages; the books contain the record of every unsaved persons's life; along with those who confessed Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, whose names were written in the Book of Life. In both cases, the destiny of the soul was established and could not be altered on Judgement Day! The unsaved were shown that they did not take advantage of the offer of eternal life through faith in Christ.
Salvation of the Soul
Apostle Peter noted: Whom having not seen (Christ Jesus), you love; in whom, though now you see him not, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory; receiving the end of your faith even the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:8-9). It was noted that Jesus, whom one having never seen with bodily eyes, was made known through the power of God's Spirit, the preaching of the Gospel, bringing one to God's saving grace through Christ!
One then truly rejoices with joy unspeakable and full of glory; a joy of believing on Him (the Lord Jesus Christ), which is better experienced than expressed! Receiving the end of your faith (destiny of the soul) is just and sufficient ground for rejoicing, having experienced spiritual and eternal salvation, to be fully enjoyed in Heaven. The salvation of the soul (through Christ Jesus as one's Lord and Savior) is of more worth than anything this world has to offer!
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