DESTINY OF THE SOUL
INTRODUCTION
Destiny of the soul is of extreme importance towards the final resting place of an 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: 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 Chronicles 5:1).
Earthly represents that which is in earth, with the physical body referred to as a earthly house, because it is from the earth and will one day return to it. It was further noted that the reference as the building of God, is speaking of a glorified body being resurrected, through the righteousness of Christ, and redemption (deliverance) of body and soul, upon acceptance of Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Destiny of the Soul
Resurrection and Destination
Jesus said: They shall come forth; they that have done good, to the resurrection of life (eternal life in a heavenly abode); and they that have done evil, to the resurrection of damnation (eternity in Hell) (John 5:29); indicting that the resurrection of life is unto everlasting life, glory, and happiness, to those in communion with God and Christ; while others, having rejected salvation of the soul (through Christ), are condemned to everlasting punishment.
Scripture reveals: 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 on the Son of God has everlasting life; and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides (remains) n him (John 3:36).
Apostle Peter wrote: The Lord is not slack concerning his promise (destruction of the wicked), as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish (be lost), 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 one’s soul, towards eternal life with a heavenly gain, is dependent on that choice.
Flames of Divine Wrath
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.
Jonathan Edwards, in a sermon entitled, “Sinners in the Hands of angry God” gives awareness of such a need, in saying: 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 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, unless repentance comes prior to Judgment Day.
Valley of Decision
The 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 sins; to those not in favor of such a decision, will have judgment handed out against them in the Day of the Lord.
The destiny of nations, and individuals, is 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 that will be even more devastating than came upon the God-defying Belshazzar and his drunken associates; after mocking God, were weighed in the balance and found wanting (Daniel 5:27). Scripture reveals that very night Belshazzar the king was slain (Daniel 5:30).
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). Those words are coming to life in our present day environment, with a society that is walking away from the righteousness of God and planting seeds of corruption that will enhance God’s judgment.
It was noted that the subject 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 (lawlessness), in the process of such; with other sins as well, a large harvest of them, for wickedness is of an increasing nature; grows worse and worse proceeding into more ungodliness. Apostle Paul noted: Evil men, and seducers, shall wax (grow) worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived (2 Timothy 3:13).
We are witnessing a manifestation towards the destiny of the soul that is not profitable; destructive in nature because it leads others towards falling into the same mode of acceptance that will only increase the size of Hell, unless repentance comes prior to Judgment Day. The Prophet Isaiah noted: Hell has enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure; and their (the ungodly) 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 8:36-37)? The destiny of the soul requires an individual to examine one’s motive towards what is sought after in this life. Jesus in speaking to one who was concerned about an inheritance, said: Take heed, and beware of covetousness; for a man’s life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses (Luke 12:13-15).
Jesus gave the parable of the rich man, who sought 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 then said; Soul, eat, drink and be merry. Jesus’ response was: 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 12:16-21).
Grasping for the Wind
King Solomon, having abundance and wealth, come to the conclusion: I looked upon all the works that my hands had accomplished, and on the labor that I have 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 2:21). He then 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, the words: What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his soul (Mark 8:36)? 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 (referring to Hell) but after this judgment (Hebrews 9:27).
Standing Before God
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 (life) (Revelation 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 person’s life; along with those who confessed Jesus 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 Judgment Day. The unsaved were shown that they did not take advantage of the offer of eternal life through faith in Christ.
Again, the words of Apostle John: He that that believes on the Son (the Lord Jesus Christ) has everlasting life; and he that believes not the Son shall not see life (a heavenly abode); but the wrath of God abides (remains) on him (a literal burning Hell) (John 3:36). Apostle Paul wrote: The wages of sin (an unsaved state) is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23).
Salvation of the Soul
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 12); and whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire (Hell) (Revelation 20:15).
In both cases, the destiny of the soul was established and could not be altered on Judgment Day. The unsaved were shown that they did not take advantage of the offer of eternal life through faith in Christ. Apostle Paul wrote: The wages of sin (an unsaved state) is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23).
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