What an interesting question. First, what is our soul? Well, the dictionary defines it as “the spiritual principle embodied in human beings, all rational and spiritual beings, or the universe; a person’s total self; the moral and emotional nature of human beings; spiritual or moral force; the spiritual part of a person that is believed to give life to the body”. In other words, it is who you are eternally. The Bible tells us that God created us with a soul. Gen 2:7 “And Jehovah God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” It also tells us that our soul is important to God. Matt 16:26 “For 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?” Matt 10:28 “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell”. So, if your soul is you and it is important, then what is it worth? Worth is defined as “the value of something measured by its qualities or by the esteem in which it is held; moral or personal value; monetary value”. So, basically, worth is measured by what someone is willing to pay for it.
First, I think we need to ask ourselves, who wants my soul? It may seem like Satan does. He will tempt you with pleasures, self-satisfaction, a sense of accomplishment, wealth, privilege, and lots of other self-serving things. He may offer you the world. Beware! Do not be deceived! All of his offers are based on lies. These lies can be subtle, suspicions of the truth. He lies because that is who he is. John 8:44 “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” He not only speaks what is false, but he hides what is true. 2 Cor 4:4 “The god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ” He disguises himself in reflections of light and righteousness. 2 Cor 11:14 “And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” Satan does signs and wonders. 2 Thessalonians 2:9 “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders.” Satan tempts people to sin. 2 Cor 11:3 “I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” If he does all these things, is it because he cares about our souls? Well, let’s ask ourselves…What is he willing to pay? What is he willing to give up? Absolutely nothing! His only desire is to defeat God. His only plan for us is to steal, kill, destroy, and devour. (1 Peter 5:8) He wants to be worshiped, and he wants to be king. He wants to keep us from worshiping the True King, and giving our lives to God. His only true desire is to thwart God. No matter what he tempts you with, remember that he doesn’t care about you. His only desire is to exalt himself.
Who does care about my soul? God does! He is the one who created you. He is the One who gave you life. Job 33:4 “The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life “. John 1: 3-4 “All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.” Our soul was designed with a longing. Psalm 84:2 “My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of Jehovah; My heart and my flesh cry out unto the living God.” Psalm 63:1 “A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water is”. Psalm 42:1 “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.” It was designed with a purpose. Isaiah 43:7 “Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.” Luke 10:27 “And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” He is the One who sustains you. Psalm 55:4 “Behold, God is my helper. The Lord is the one who sustains my soul.” He renews, revives, and restores you. 2 Cor 4:16 “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day”. Psalm 19:7 “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.” Psalm 23:3 “He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” He gives us hope. Psalm 130:5 “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his Word I hope.” Psalm 38:15 “For I hope in You, O LORD; You will answer, O Lord my God” Psalm 42:11 “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” He redeems our souls. Psalm 34:22 “The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.” Psalm 103:4 “Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with loving kindness and compassion”. Isaiah 44:22 “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.”
Why does He do all of these and more for us? He loves us! If He loves us that much, then let’s go back to our original question. How much is our soul worth? Well, if worth is what someone is willing to pay, then let’s ask…how much was God willing to pay? The answer is ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING! Why? Because He loves us! John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Ps 86:15 “But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering and abundant in mercy and truth.” 1 John 4:19 “We love him, because he first loved us.” What was the cost He was willing to pay? Absolutely Anything! He had to leave His home. He had to leave His throne and the splendor of Heaven. He had to put on human form, and took on basic human needs, such as the need for food, rest, warmth, shelter, and more. In heaven, He had no needs, but here on earth he felt hunger, thirst, weariness, emotional and physical pain. He was tempted just like we are. Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet he did not sin.” He had to take off His robes to put on our rags. Phil 2:7 “Rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness”. 2 Cor 8:9 “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.” He was mocked. He was spat upon. He was wrongfully accused. He was betrayed and arrested. He was beaten and bruised so badly that He was unrecognizable. He was pierced. He was forced to wear a crown of thorns. His garments were stripped off. He was denied and abandoned. He was forced to carry the cross up Golgotha’s Hill. Isaiah 53:5 “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed”. He bore our sins and our sorrows. He took our punishment for sin upon Himself. 1 Peter 2:24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” Phil 2:8 “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.” He had to endure an agonizing separation from His Father because of our sin. During the three hours Jesus hung on the cross, God judicially placed upon Him the sin of us all, and then turned His face from Him. (God cannot look upon sin) Mark 15:34 “At the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Ultimately, He gave up His life for ours. He bled and died to give us life. Matt 27:50 “When Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He yielded up His spirit.” John 19:30 “So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” No one took His life. He gave it up willingly!
So, I ask again…What is the worth of a human life/a soul? Since God created us in His own image, and Jesus died to redeem each one, all are of infinite worth to Him. What a price that was paid for you and for me!
Trusting Through Brokenness 