Consider three stories that surface a response to circumstances from our SOUL and SPIRIT. First, Sigmund Freud’s last words before death were, “This is absurd! This is absurd!” If he referred to dying, it wasn’t at all absurd. It proved instead the never-failing fulfillment of God’s threat to Adam and Eve, Genesis 2:16-17. “Absurd!” would be someone in history defying the decree and living on 10,000 years.
The unconverted soul, however, refuses to serve its God-appointed task (the way this blog uses the term) and is never satisfied. For example, it wants to live longer, but doesn’t want to get older in the process. That’s an oxymoron, but soul doesn’t care. It only want its way. The spirit in us (used in this blog as God’s image on our mind), accepts death in humanity as normal. And, beyond accepting it, prefers it, without hastening it by careless living and bad habits. Philippians 1:19-26 explains the spirit’s response. Second, the home of George Marston, built in 1905 on ground north of what would become Balboa Park, San Diego, California, had 4 stories of 8,500 square feet and 16-19 rooms. Costing $20,000 to build, a fortune at the time, its restoration in 2021 cost $462,000. The soul declares, “build possessions symbolic of your place in society.” And, once built, enjoy” Luke 12:18-19. The spirit would riposte, “build instead a life that proves a good example of Jesus that the Holy Spirit’s touch can make excellent. And which, after it’s over, can secure God’s benefits forever Matthew 25:21, 23. Third, everyone gets tested. Children test parents. Teachers test students. Students test teachers. Manufacturers test products. Sports teams test each other, etc. God tested Joseph in Egypt by exposing him to adversity. Daniel in Babylon by exposing him to prosperity. Jesus by sending him into the wilderness directly AFTER declaring being WELL-PLEASED with him Matthew 3:16-17. Nevertheless, the unconverted soul says, “Once I declare faith in Christ, God should trust me to be faithful.” The spirit replies, “Nonsense. Declaring commitment to Jesus, however sincere, must be tested to prove its worth. To develop a broad based-discipleship, good in all situations. We must expect to be re-tested by different circumstances and welcome the challenge to make tests opportunities in and stepping-stones to a redoubtable discipleship. End Part I
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