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Gospel Gazette Online
Vol.  11  No. 2 February 2009  Page 6                    powered by FreeFind


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The Value of a Soul

By Marilyn LaStrape

Marilyn LaStrapeWe have recently been informed that the United States has a 1.2 trillion dollar deficit! This amount of money in any economic sphere staggers the mind in grappling to comprehend the grave significance of that dollar amount!

However, the value of a single soul, the eternal aspect of mankind created in the very image of God, cannot be calculated in dollars and cents! How do we know that? Jesus said in Matthew 16:26, “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?” We could never have enough money or get enough money to buy back our souls once they were irrevocably lost!

What did Jesus want all of us to understand? In the sight of God, all the bail out money is cheaper than the value of one soul! Take the 1.2 trillion dollar deficit, multiply it by any dollar amount, and one soul is still worth more! Nobody knows what the world is worth, so nobody knows what one soul is worth. It would not matter if we did know; one soul is priceless! It does not matter if the soul resides at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue or Skid Row; in the eyes of God both souls are of equal value because Jesus Christ died for us all!

Some of the words that describe valuable are “expensive,” “costly” and “priceless.” Immortality is the value that a soul has that causes the value of this world and the things in it to pale in comparison! The Bible gives this graphic description of what God is going to do with this world and everything in it. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:9-10). Paul stated it this way, “While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).

We as Christians need to understand that the obedient response to the Gospel message, as it is preached and taught to broken men, women, boys and girls is the only thing of lasting value! We as Christians need to see people as souls that are going to live forever! We as Christians need to start looking past the outward appearance and see what God sees—souls in need of redemption! We further learn the value of a soul in Daniel 12:3; “Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.” There is nothing in this world comparable to that value and reward!

The reward of heaven through Jesus Christ is our reason for being. “As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness” (Psalm 17:15). No price can be attached to looking upon the face of God and Jesus Christ! First John 3:2-3 says, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

Heaven is a prepared place for prepared people. We have to prepare for virtually everything we do in life. What preparations have we made for our eternal, priceless souls? Have we given any serious thought to our souls being the most valuable possession we have, and its eternal destiny is in our individual control? Have we truly immersed ourselves in the knowledge that this world and everything in it will be ultimately destroyed? “Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness” (2 Peter 3:11). Our mortal bodies will be clothed in immortality, but everything else will be gone! Paul tells us, “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.” “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:50, 53).

What is the bottom line? When the trumpet of the Lord sounds, it will not matter how much money we had, in what neighborhood we lived, what kind of car we drove, how many degrees we had or even the power and influence we wielded. All that will matter is where will our invaluable souls spend eternity!

We sing this song, “What Will Your Answer Be?” by Tillit S. Teddlie. The words are indeed thought provoking.

“Someday you’ll stand at the bar on high, Someday your record you’ll see;
Someday you’ll answer the question of life, What will your answer be?

 Sadly you’ll stand, if you’re unprepared, Trembling, you’ll fall on your knee;
Facing the sentence of life or of death, What will that sentence be?

 Now is the time to prepare my friend, Make your soul spotless and free;
Washed in the blood of the Crucified One, He will your answer be.”


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