Soul?
I can understand a man concluding that he has no soul. When I look within myself and see carnal recklessness, apathy concerning the future, and all forms of immediate self-preservation and self-indulgence, all stampeding the meekness of neighbor, I too wonder if I am borne on naught but chemical reaction. Yet, I, and any whose life experience has been similar to mine, cannot conclude that a human-being has no soul, because nobility has been soundly observed in the lives of friends and heroes. I have see your good deeds and praise my Father who is heaven.
So here we see humility at work. For my vessel void of virtue cannot be my noble friends’ superior; judgment is for the great, and they brightly ring, “Yes for the soul!” If I concede mediocrity (or less) for myself, then I must follow through and concede glory for they who are good. Half-hearted humility will slay those I should admire and follow, as well as myself, by failing to move on from the first step of focusing on my own shortcomings. I must move on and fully satisfy humility by focusing on they who are worthy. Otherwise, this half-fulfilled humility, which cannot remain so, must descend into self-centeredness, which can know no savior but myself, already deemed poor. It is a deep grace that discontent of myself can be a chief vehicle for arriving at content of God and neighbor.
Perhaps, though, you are without a noble Paul who’s example you can follow as he follows Christ’s. But if you at least know of Christ, and know the accounts of His ministry, than you have some witness of man shining in his soul. As the Scriptures, and Christ Himself, so often conclude in warning, so will I. The soul, like humility, cannot be embraced partially, in half-heartedness. If it is not taken in full, it must finally depart. Be careful that you do not forfeit your soul, even to gain the whole world.
Isaiah 56:9-12, Matthew 5:16, Philippians 2:3, 1 Corinthians 11:1, Mark 8:36