The third and final “S” in this faith sharing shema stands for soul as in “We have a Soul Problem.” The human soul or spirit is eternal and this raises all sorts of questions. Where will be the soul be? What will the nature of the eternal life of the soul be? Are there soul options? Is there something I need to do about my soul now – before I biologically die? We have a Soul Problem.
The Apostle Peter warns:
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of your flesh, which wage war against your soul (1 Peter 2:11).
What do you mean, “wage war against your soul?” There are forces in the world, our own flesh or carnal desires among them, that are literally trying to destroy our souls. But in this case the word destroy doesn’t mean to annihilate, to smash our souls into oblivion. It refers to an ultimate and final breaking of reconciliation between our sinful selves and a holy God, leaving our souls separated from Him, destined for hell for all eternity. We have a Soul Problem.
Jesus is the Soul Solution. Paul, in writing to the church in Rome, discusses his helplessness and frustration over the battle between flesh and spirit, captured for us in Romans Chapter 7. He concludes with these heart wrenching and heart healing words:
Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. . . There is, therefore, no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. Romans 7:24 – 8:2
Sin, and its consequences, is a fact, and we as sinners are destined for destruction. But Jesus paid the penalty for our sins, at least for those of us who believe that He is the Son of God sent into the world to serve the Father without sin, to die on the cross as the penalty for sin, to be raised from the dead in conquering death, to ascend into heaven to reign and to send the Holy Spirit into the world and into the hearts of believers to guide and direct holy living.
For the follower of Christ, there is a new destination as seen in John’s vision recorded in Revelation:
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice for the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:1-4
We have a Soul Problem. Jesus is the Soul (and the Sole) Solution.
