I am Bill’s Soul
Mark Roberts
Editor’s Note: one of the most famous and often
reprinted series in the history of Reader’s Digest was
the “I Am Joe’s ——-” series. Those articles took a first
person look at various parts of the physical body, i.e. “I
am Joe’s heart” in which the heart described its functioning
and how it related to the rest of the body. Of
course, RD never undertook to describe the spiritual
nature and side of Joe so several years ago Dee
Bowman took a cue from RD and wrote several articles
about Joe from a biblical perspective (renamed “Fred”
in Dee’s wonderful articles). I liked both series and
would like to further expand upon them so, from time to
time, we’ll talk a little about “Bill” and his conscience, his
heart, his hands and more. This month we are introduced
to his soul.
I am Bill’s soul. What everyone sees and describes
as Bill is nothing but a shelter for me. I live in Bill’s
physical body, but that body is no more Bill than your
three bedroom brick house with its two car garage and
a big front yard is you. I am the essence of Bill. I am
his soul.
The Bible uses different terms for me like “spirit” or
“soul.” Some religious groups play off these different
terms to confuse people into believing I don’t exist, but
they are mistaken. I get offended at that because the
Bible says “Do not fear those who kill the body but
cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to
destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28).
There is more to Bill than just his body. There is me, his
soul — and the Bible has much to say about me.
I was created by God – the only One who can
manufacture a soul. “Then the dust will return to the
earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who
gave it. ” (Ecclesiastes 12:7). Modern science has tried
everything imaginable to make a soul because when
the soul is put into a body that animates the body, and
makes it come alive. “For as the body without the spirit
is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James
2:26). If Bill’s body without me is dead then Bill’s body
with me is alive, isn’t it? Science would love to make a
genuine living being but Frankenstein exists only in
movies and books. Only God can make alive, and that
means only God can make me, a soul.
I am conscious and have personality. I am not
just an impersonal “force,” energy or ghost. Revelation
6:9-11 shows the souls of martyred saints
crying out in heaven. They are aware of where they
are, what is going on around them, can speak and be
comforted. Souls can be anchored with hope (Heb.
6:19). 1 Peter 3:18-20 speaks of “spirits in prison” and
2 Peter 2:9-10 and Matthew 25:41, 46 show that souls
can be punished and even know pain. I don’t like to
think about that, but it is true: I can suffer and hurt, just
like I can know joy and happiness.
This is important because I will live forever. Unless
the Lord comes first, eventually Bill’s body will die
and decay, but I will never die. The story of Lazarus and
the rich man (Luke 16:22-23) or Jesus’ words to the
thief on the cross (Luke 23:42-43) show that the soul
transcends physical death. Paul yearned to be out of
his body and with the Lord (Phil. 1:23), which is more
proof of how I won’t die. Some use the term “immortal”
for me and it fits well because it means something that
never dies. I am not like God in that I have beginning
(and He doesn’t), but I have no end. Talking like that
boggles Mind something fierce, but it is so!
I want to live forever in heaven. The scary part
about being a soul is putting these truths together. I will
be alive forever, but where? Where will I spend
eternity? I want so much for it to be with “the general
assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered
in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of
all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect .
. . (Hebrews 12:23). That is what I was made for: to live
with God for all eternity and praise and glorify Him
(Heb. 2:10). That is what I was redeemed for (1 Peter 2:9).
Yet sometimes Bill’s body forgets its temporary
status (or tries to ignore it) and wants to sin and have a
few moments of bodily pleasure. Conscience and Mind
and Heart have to go work then on Bill to remind him not
to give in to evil that would lead to an eternity without
God.
All this matters more than anything else on earth
because I can die. Those who don’t believe I exist like
to trick people by asking if the soul can die, getting an
affirmative answer, and then showing a passage from
the Bible that speaks of souls perishing. Such is
foolishness. These people simply use scriptures where
the term “soul” refers to a physical person, not to me, the
immortal part of Bill that cannot die physically. That
understood, you must know I can die. “Death” means
“separation” and I can be separated from my Creator
who I belong to: “Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul
of the father As well as the soul of the son is Mine; The
soul who sins shall die. ” (Ezekiel 18:4). This passage
doesn’t mean every person who sins will be struck
physically dead for their iniquity. You see sinners every
day who live outside of God’s law who go right on
breathing and living. This verse refers to spiritual death,
to being separated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2). Because
my Creator is perfect and holy He cannot tolerate or be
in fellowship with darkness (1 John 1:5). If Bill chooses
darkness and doesn’t ever repent of that then I cannot
live with God in heaven. I will be lost and spend an
eternity in hell (2 Thess. 1:7-9). It makes me shudder to
think of it!
Thus I am Bill’s most valuable possession. Jesus
said “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?” (Matthew 16:26). Bill should
filter all of life through the simple question “Will this get
my soul to heaven?” If Bill gets distracted from the real
pursuit of life he can end up in sin and then I could be lost!
But when Bill sets Mind on things above (Col. 3:2), reads
his Bible and prays for God’s help then he knows what
is right and he does right. That is when I feel the very
safest.
I can’t wait for that sweet “Home of the Soul.” What
a joy it will be to finally reach heaven. You have a soul
also. Will I see your soul in heaven?