" THE SOUL "

" SOUL ": life, Spirit 1) In the plural, often synonymous with " Persons " or " People "; in the singular, a living being (Gen 2:7). 2) The seat of feelings, desires, and emotions. 3) The nonmaterial element of man - the most important part of human existence - as seen in the human personality. This element lives on after the death of the body, and will ultimately be joined again with a resurrected body to spend eternity in heaven or in the Lake Of Fire (hell, Matthew 10:28). When we allow God our Shepherd to guide us, we have contentment. When we choose to sin, however, we go our own way and cannot blame God for the environment we create for ourselves. Now, our Shepherd knows the " Green Pastures " and " Quiet Waters " that will restore us. We will reach these places only by following him obediently. Rebelling against the Shepherd's leading is actually rebelling against our own best interests. Now I believe that we must remember this the next time we are tempted to go our own way rather than Shepherd's way. " For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay " (Psalm 16:10). I love it that David stated confidently that God would leave him in the grave (Sheol). I believe that many people especially the unbeliever, those who do not have eternal security fear death. As Believers, we can be assured that God does not forget us when we die. He will bring us to life again to live with him forever. LAST POINT: I'm reminded of the verse in Psalm 42:1-2 " As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my Soul pants for you, O'God.": As the life of a deer depends upon water, so our lives depend upon God. Those who seek him and long to understand him to find never-ending life. Feeling separated from God, this psalmist wouldn't rest until he restored his relationship with God because he knew that his very life depending on it. Until next Time... Jim,