quest for forbidden or advanced knowledge of material things, summons the
Devil” who offers to serve him for a period of time, at the cost of his soul” (http:
//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faust#General_plot). The 1979 song “The Devil Went
Down to Georgia” depicts a similar plot; albeit, it derives from the Bible’s warning
against spiritual bargaining. Like us, Paul had been “sold [to Satan] under sin”
(Ro. 7:14). Jesus warned us not to allow Satan to keep possession of our souls
(Mt. 16:21-26). He said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and
take up his cross, and follow me…For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the
whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his
soul” (vv24,26)? Is there anything worth allowing Satan to possess your soul? In
the end, it won’t matter how well you could fiddle life’s tunes. All that will matter
is whether the tune you played was harmonious to the will of God.
Is your soul worth attending the “church of your choice”?
God’s choice is really all that matters. One has liberty to choose what shoes and
shirt he puts on in the morning, but as far as choosing of what church to a part,
our will must submit to God’s. There is only one church Christ built (Mt. 16:18;
Ep. 4:4; 1:22,23); therefore, first, look for the church that wears Christ’s name.
Then, investigate churches to find which uses no creed but the Bible, teaches
“sound doctrine” (Tit. 2:1), worships “in spirit and in truth” (Jn. 4:24) and
upholds godly living in each of its members (Ja. 1:27). If one doesn’t care to find
the church of Jesus Christ, then he doesn’t care about salvation – God has “added
to the church” the ones who are saved (Ac. 2:47).
Is your soul worth preferring practically everything before church
attendance?
“Some long lost cousin, three or four times removed, is coming to town” – “My
dachshund is sick” – “This week is my vacation”; If these or similar thoughts
have interfered with your ability to reason and spurred random absences from
assembling with the saints, you may want to reconsider your devotion to God and
the church (cf. Mt. 6:33). Read excuses offered to Jesus in Matthew 8:21,22 and
Luke 14:16-24. Nothing non-life-threatening or easily avoidable should take
precedence over Christian worship, study and living. Excuse-making must be
stopped.
Is your soul worth leading an immoral personal life?
Having your cake and eating it too is fine if taken literally and if it is your
birthday; however, a life lived to this axiom, indulging to the fullest extent of
carnal sumptuousness, is altogether inappropriate (Ro. 8:6-8; cf. He. 11:24,25;
Tit. 2:12). Why give up heaven and your soul to college coed parties, tobacco and
drugs, vulgar language, indecent dress, covetousness, arrogance or anything else?
If by your actions or thoughts you’re bargaining your soul to the Devil, please
come to realize it is not worth it. The Father, Christ and His disciples love you
and desire your salvation. Give your soul to God.
