Don't Gain the World and Lose Your Soul

What do we all have that come in all different sizes, while some smell better than others? Souls. And not just the ones on your feet. 

The soul is defined as a "the spiritual or immaterial part of a  human being or animal, regarded as immortal" (it's odd to me they toss 'animal' in there, but hey, I guess all dogs go to heaven). I had to look this up because I really wasn't sure exactly what the soul was/is. To be honest; it's super difficult to define the differences between the heart, the mind and the soul. They all seem to be so intertwined and interchangeably used that it is hard to define the differences, especially between the heart and the soul. You may or may not believe in having a soul. If you believe in an afterlife, you probably do, and if you don't believe in an afterlife, you probably don't. I, however, do believe in a soul. 

I remember reading/watching the Harry Potter series growing up and seeing these creatures called dementors suck out people's souls as a form of punishment greater than death (did anyone else notice they never went for Ron?). It would allow a person to live, but not really "live." In a way, it reveals a bit of how vital a soul is to a human life. I remember reading my Bible and hearing pastors and teachers talk about the soul nearly every week in some form or fashion. The soul seemed important; it was eternal and the driver of life's purpose.

It's with the soul that we do life. Through the soul and from the soul come energy and intensity, so how can someone harness that energy and intensity and not lose it? To lose the soul is worse than gaining the world. How can we keep it safe?

Focus on eternity.

If the soul is the eternal piece of a human, then that's the part that never dies, and that's the part that should matter. However, how much harder is it to focus on eternity and put it into perspective? It's incredibly difficult. It blows my mind just trying to imagine eternity. I have a hard enough time imagining next week, much less 3,000 years from now in a Place I believe to be real but, in reality, have a hard time imagining. Focusing on eternity is difficult because it's difficult to concentrate on something we can only begin to comprehend. 

Jesus questions, "What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?" Basically, gaining all of the money, pleasure and power of the world brings no lasting benefit if someone loses his soul to spiritual death and separation from eternity to gain it. Focus on gaining eternity, on gaining soul, not the world. In eternity, nothing worldly gained matters. In the end, you can't take anything with you. The world isn't worth the cost of eternity. Thank God, the cost for Eternity has already been paid.

-Cliff

Cliff's Note: The world isn't worth the cost of eternity. Thank God, the cost for Eternity has already been paid.

If it's what's on the inside that counts, why don't I count it?

There's an old, country song by Lonestar called 'Front Porch Looking In.' It's a great tune, if you're into the whole country/western scene. It's about a man who has a great piece of open land to work and farm with a great view from his porch (sounding like most country songs at this point); however, the catch comes when the writer claims that his best view is actually the view from his front porch looking into his home where he can see his wife, kids and family. Essentially, it's a song that speaks to the idea that it's what's on the inside that counts.

We've all heard that saying before: "It's what's on the inside that counts." It's a saying we use to point to the heart of a person, rather than what's on the outside. It's been a saying used to overcome racism and so much more. Being such an important saying that I reckon most everyone would agree with in some form or fashion, it amazes me at just how little we in fact work to take care of what's on the inside.

If it's what's on the inside that counts, why don't we take care of it as much as we take care of our outside? Why don't we make taking care of our hearts, minds and souls a priority? It's so easy to take care of the outside. After all, that's what everyone sees, so that's what should matter the most, right? Everyone can see hair, clothes and skin, so we wash it, brush it and clothe it with the best we can afford. It's a priority to shower every day and put deodorant on (as it should be, especially if you're a man), but why isn't it a priority to wash and cleanse the heart, mind and soul every day?

A big personal conviction of this comes with going to the gym and eating healthy. I'll spend anywhere from an hour to two hours a day at the gym, making sure my body stays fit, while I'll spend (maybe) 20 minutes reading, writing or reflecting in order to assure my 'insides' are doing okay. I'll spend lots of time at the grocery store trying to pick out healthy-ish items I can put in my body to assure I'm receiving all the nutrients I need, but how much time do I spend looking at what I'm putting into my heart, mind and soul to assure that those aspects of my life will remain healthy? Not much, I can tell you that.

It even comes down to when someone asks how I am. My outside is fine, so I say I'm fine. I'm feeling physically good, so I must be good. But what about what counts? What about the inside of the man? Odds are, they aren't usually as good because I don't spend as much of my time taking care of what's on the inside compared to what's on the outside, and I won't tell anyone about that part of my life because that's only for me to know. 

If it's what's on the inside that counts, I should be more apt to care about what I'm putting 'inside' of me (and I'm not just talking about vegetables). If I want my heart, mind and soul to be healthy, it's important to exercise those areas of life just as much, if not more than, I exercise my physical self. When someone asks how I am, maybe it's time to be honest about how I am, both on the outside and the inside. I just want to be healthy, and I want you to be too. Let's take care of our insides this week. 

-Cliff

Cliff's Note: If it's what's on the inside that counts, count it, take care of it, and exercise it.