26What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
28“Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” (Matthew 16:26-28)
Thoughts: The soul (psyche) of us is the essence of who we are. In Hebrew the word is nephesh (breath- God's life-breath in us). The soul is the part that lives, and our body is part of it. Descartes (1620) spent decades trying to find the soul and he suggested it is found in the pineal gland in the brain as it is the only part of the brain not split into two hemispheres. MacDougal (1901) postulated by weighing those near death with those who died that the soul weighs 21 grams. My theory is the soul is part of our DNA and resides in each molecule like DNA does/with the DNA. As air and water reside in each cell so the soul - the essence of who we are resides in each part of us. To give up our soul is to give up our essence or our mind-- and who would want to do that? The ancient idea is that one day we will have to stand before the One who made our souls and give an account of our lives- were we good stewards of the breath and life given to us.
Before we get wary of "wrath of God" type stuff, let us also be assured of these things: - 1) This is a sure way for evil to end; 2) This is something that holds us accountable so that we do not think we can get away with anything; 3) In reality- this means that what we do matters- that there is a good and evil that will be judged; 4) For those who love God this is not something to be afraid of- it is seeing the One we love and being welcomed and accepted fully. While a bride may be nervous seeing her husband on her wedding day, she can be assured that the wedding day is something not to fear but to look forward to.
The coming of Christ had four parts: 1) He was in the beginning; 2) He sometimes made theophanies/appearances- like in the fire with Daniel and his friends- "Like the Son of God." 3) He came to earth as a baby and human and suffered; 4) He rose from the dead- coming again in power (this was what was probably alluded to here). His coming in His kingdom is a measure of His glory. 5) He will come again with all His glory and the total fullness of His kingdom at the end of human history. God comes. He was, and is, and is to come. It is the "is to come" part that we look forward to as those who love Him.
Before we get wary of "wrath of God" type stuff, let us also be assured of these things: - 1) This is a sure way for evil to end; 2) This is something that holds us accountable so that we do not think we can get away with anything; 3) In reality- this means that what we do matters- that there is a good and evil that will be judged; 4) For those who love God this is not something to be afraid of- it is seeing the One we love and being welcomed and accepted fully. While a bride may be nervous seeing her husband on her wedding day, she can be assured that the wedding day is something not to fear but to look forward to.
The coming of Christ had four parts: 1) He was in the beginning; 2) He sometimes made theophanies/appearances- like in the fire with Daniel and his friends- "Like the Son of God." 3) He came to earth as a baby and human and suffered; 4) He rose from the dead- coming again in power (this was what was probably alluded to here). His coming in His kingdom is a measure of His glory. 5) He will come again with all His glory and the total fullness of His kingdom at the end of human history. God comes. He was, and is, and is to come. It is the "is to come" part that we look forward to as those who love Him.
Prayer: Lord, may I grow in anticipation of the day when I shall see you face to face either by my death or by your coming again.
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