Believe it, or not, you are a rich recipient of goodness. Goodness borne out of the faith and wisdom of your brethren; you have much to be thankful for. Most importantly, of course, you have had your soul watched over.
However, churches can only do so much; the rest is between you and the Lord.
It is inside your head and heart that your private faith is played out. It is there the battle for your soul rages. While Jesus is telling you to armour up for the fight, Satan is telling you that there’s no fight to worry about.
We are easily tempted into the open. Forgetting that out from behind the protection of Jesus the battle for your soul is lost before its begun.
We must grapple with this question: “What is it that causes a person to nonchalantly hand their soul over to the devil for an eternity of hell?
Of course, the answer is embarrassingly simple: “The lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life” (1 John 2:16).
“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36-37).
It seems that in the minds of most, the desires of the flesh constitute a fair exchange for the soul.
The “Rich Fool” in Jesus’ parable traded his soul for this world’s riches. His accounting was off when he said:
“Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ (Luke 12:19-20).
John Staiger
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