“Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4). God used the pen of the prophet Ezekiel to write the truth regarding the stewardship of the soul of humanity. A steward is a person who takes care of what belongs to another. When we consider ourselves and those around us, we must understand that we are stewards of our own souls and the souls of those we meet. Humanity belongs to God in at least one of two ways. First, every individual belongs to God because He created everyone (Psalm 100:3). Secondly, Christians belong to God in a special way because He purchased us (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Thus, in a very real way, God has entrusted every human being with the stewardship of an immortal soul. Consider the truth regarding this trust.
Firstly, we must understand the Possessor of the soul. “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine…” (Ezekiel 18:4a). This statement is true of all humanity, Christian or not. The soul of every person is God’s by right of creation (Genesis 1:26; 2:7; Acts 17:25). As such, mankind must understand that although seldom admitting it, people do not “own” themselves, but rather God owns them. Therefore, what I desire to do is not ultimately up to me, but I must be pleasing to the Owner (God) of my soul.
Secondly, we must understand the problem of the soul. “…the soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 184b). What each person chooses to do with his or her life affects the eternality of the soul. Although all souls belong to God, He has given freedom to mankind to do with one’s own soul as he or she so chooses. In the days of antiquity, Joshua declared, “Choose you this day…” (cf. Joshua 24:15). Through Jeremiah, God confirmed, “And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death” (Jeremiah 21:8; cf. Matthew 7:13ff; et al). God allows us to choose, and if we choose incorrectly, our soul’s destiny is at stake (cf. Romans 14:12; 2 Corinthians 5:10).
Thirdly, we must clearly understand the plan for the soul. God’s plan for every soul is salvation (cf. John 3:16-17). In fact, God’s heart breaks when a soul is lost (Ezekiel 18:32; 33:11; 2 Peter 3:9). God’s plan includes the church. We are God’s plan to save the souls of lost humanity (Ephesians 3:9-11). Surely that is why so much emphasis is given to preaching and spreading the Gospel throughout the world (cf. Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Romans 1:13ff).
A few minutes after Robin Williams died, the news had flooded the world. Within a day or two, almost everyone in the world had heard that this American actor had died. Sadly, our Lord died some 2,000 years ago, and still there are many who have never heard about it. We have been entrusted with the souls of humanity. We have been saved to serve and share the message of our Lord’s death, burial and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). It is up to us; will the world hear? Let’s get busy, because eternity weighs in the balances!
[Editor’s Note: “Eternity weighs in the balances,” obviously, for those who need to hear the glad tidings of good news of the Gospel of Christ. However, “eternity weighs in the balances” for Christians, too, who have the responsibility to take the Word of God to the lost world. ~ Louis Rushmore, Editor]Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me: When I say to the wicked, You shall surely die, and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand. Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man that the righteous should not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; also you will have delivered your soul. (Ezekiel 3:17-21 NKJV)
