The Soul of Man - Eschatology

The illustration at right is my attempt, within the limits of my artistic skills, to depict the male/female human being.

The white, somewhat heart shaped figure, represents a fresh soul, newly breathed into a human being.

Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

The soul is white; unblemished. The Bible speaks of the 'heart of man'. It means the central, inner being, not the physical blood pumping organ.

The short downward pointing pipes allow the overflow of the 'soul/heart' to fill the entire person. As the person's soul is filled to overflowing, some of what is in it flows out into the world.

Attached above the soul/heart is an intake tube (gray) which passes through the brain. Information from experiences pour into this tube via the carnal senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Another intake tube (white) bypasses the brain. This intake allows spiritual information to enter the soul/heart.

Stage 1

As the human grows and experiences life, it separates pleasurable experiences and seeks to pursue more of them. Thus, the things of the 'world' being to fill the soul. The brain can not distinguish between good and evil. It allows everything seen, heard, smelled, tasted, or touched, to enter the brain's memory banks. The soul/heart absorbs the effects of these events and takes on the character of that which fills it.

Stage 2

The walk through life gradually fill the soul/heart with worldly things and desires. A personal sense of morals or ethics, or cultural pressure, is the filter which operates to block outflow of some soul/heart content. Social mores prohibit most, but not all, people from doing certain acts which the soul/heart wants to do. Western cultures have adopted the portion of the Mosaic Law which concerns the relationship of the individual to the society's members.

Human laws and 'justice' inhibit or punish all manner of activities: arson, theft, murder, battery, public nudity, to mention a few. The beginning of the code is largely dismissed as 'religion'. I refer to the commands concerning the relationship of the individual to the Divine Creator.

Matthew 15:19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.

Mark 7:21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder,

Luke 6:45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

Stage 3

In this fourth illustration, you see a person whose heart is filled with darkness, cares, and desires, of the flesh. The spiritual intake tube remains unused. What happens is this: the person who does not allow the inflow of valid spiritual information lives in spiritual darkness.

Everything in life is self centered and viewed through the lens of satisfying self. The range of results includes all the common, everyday facets of ordinary life. Ruptured relationships. Gluttony and greed. Anger and depression. Adultery. Child abuse. Envy. The person is driven by wanting everything and wanting it now. You may encounter some individual who has not succumbed completely to these impulses, but they are few.

An organization of atheists rented a billboard on which a photo of a man appeared with the words, "I can be good without God". The trouble is, once the soul/heart is filled with the things of the world, spiritually poisonous things appear to be good.

Proverbs 12:15 The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.

Stage 4

Enter the Holy Spirit which was sent to the Earth when Jesus ascended into heaven, some two thousand or so years ago.

Revelation 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

John 14:26 26 But the Helper will teach you everything and will cause you to remember all that I told you. This Helper is the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name.

This Holy Spirit is also called Holy Ghost, Advocate, Helper, Paraclete, and Comforter in various translations of Scripture. This is the Spirit of God which was first infused, or enthused/breathed, into the first man we call Adam. Through disbelief in consequences, Adam disobeyed God's command. The Holy Spirit left him. His soul remained, but it had no spiritual life in it.

The dead soul/heart of man can be regenerated and brought to life again by the power of this Spirit of God. The Spirit is abroad in the world seeking those who will repent and accept Christ as Savior. When a person makes a decision to invite Christ into their life, He comes in via the Holy Spirit which enters the soul/heart and there confirms and convicts the new believer of the truth of salvation. The person is "born again of the Spirit" and IS a living being.

Stage 5

This is only the beginning of the new life. IF the repented, born again believer will allow it, the Spirit begins to drive out the cares of the world.

If you have ever examined a car radiator, or a water heater, you have noticed it has a pet cock or drain valve at its bottom. If it is opened, the water will drain out. Along with the water will be the accumulation of trash and rust which have inhabited the tank. If fresh water is flowing in to the top of the radiator or heater, a flushing action occurs. Over time, all the dirty water and trash are replaced by the fresh water and the inside becomes clean, like new.

Metaphorically, the Spirit opens the drain valve and commences flushing out the old to make room for the new life.

Stage 6

Once the Spirit begins to indwell the person, the soul heart begins to fill with the good things that come from God.

The most notable of these are described by Saint Paul in a letter to the church at Galatia. He wrote:

Galatians 5:16-22 16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[c] you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Stage 7

Over time, one who walks "in the Spirit" becomes totally infused by the Spirit. He will have no desire for the things of the flesh which are at war with the things of the Spirit. He will be filled with spiritual light and see truly. This does not usually happen instantaneously, nor overnight. A person can awaken the next day and feel nothing different except a sort of inexplicable knowledge that, "I am saved. I have been born again. I wonder what happens next?"

What happens next is up to the individual. One can sit on his duff until his body dies and he (his soul/heart) goes to be with God, or he can begin to seek God in prayer and association with other believers. When a person sincerely asks God for redemption/salvation, God will send into his life people who can help guide him into the fullness of new life.

The Spirit will fill his entire being. What comes out of him will bless and witness to others the miraculous event which changed him. If you claim your salvation, which is a completely free gift from God through Christ, you will also face opposition from your worst enemy. He used to be your best friend, guiding you through a spiritually dead life. I'm talking about Satan. He wants you back.

He knows you are most vulnerable in the early days of your walk in the Spirit with Christ. He will first try to plague you with doubt. If you allow him to, he will have you back in the dead zone before you become spiritually strong enough, and informed enough, to thwart his plans for you. He wants you to spend eternity in his company ... in a place we call hell. Don't let him do this to you.

Stage 8

You may be thinking, "Okay. But HOW do I claim my salvation ?
What must I do ?
What will I have to give up ?

HOW & WHAT
It's extremely easy. It is so easy, people think it's too good to be true. But it IS true. Dealing with God is not like dealing with hucksters. Think about it --- if you possessed supreme power, would you ever feel a need to lie to get what you want ? No. You could just take it. God, by definition, is supreme and can do ANYTHING He decides to do. He can give you eternal life if you want it. If you don't, it's no skin off His teeth.

To meet the requirements for obtaining eternal life from God, you need do only two things: Repent and Confess.

Repent means to acknowledge to God that you are an imperfect sinner. Confess means to ask the Lord JEsus Christ to come into your life and save you. After that, you must TELL someone that you have been saved by Him. You must confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. Of course, you must BELIEVE this when you say it.

All you have to do is talk to God as if He was right there in the place where you are. He actually, IS, you know. If you can't think of the right words, you can use these ...

"Lord, Jesus Christ; I am a sinner. You and I both know it. I can not seem to live without failing. I ask you to come into my heart, save me, and guide my life. Thank you Lord for giving me eternal life and making me a new creation."

You can do this NOW, right where you are. After you become a new creation, you may experience strange, unexpected joy or amazement. The Spirit of God will witness within you to the truth of your salvation. TEll someone as soon as you can. When you hear your own voice proclaim, "I am born again in Christ", you will be affirmed in your belief.

Giving up things:

You can trust the Holy Spirit to show you what life changes He will help you to make. In my case, the very first thing He did was when I spoke the name of the Lord in vain, saying "Goddammit", the Spirit suddenly made me hear it in a way I never before heard it. BEfore, it was an expletive. Suddenly, I realized I was speaking the name of the Most High. In thirty plus years since then, I have done it maybe two times when I lost my self-control.

If you are a serial rapist, He will tell you to stop doing it. If you abuse your children or spouse, He will show this to you and you will be ashamed and correct your behavior. Keep always in mind that the Holy Spirit does NOT CONDEMN you. He CONVICTS you and teaches you what is good and true and worthy. No matter how many years you live on Earth, you will never live up to the standards God has set. THAT is precisely why you NEED a Savior; the One who actually did meet God's standards and who covers your sins so you may be seen by God as worthy though you are not.

Keep the faith. God bless you and guide you.