THE TORTURED SOUL

In the beginning, God created man as a spiritual being with the capacity to serve and fellowship with Him. 

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul. Genesis 2:7

The term 'living soul' pertains to the eternal part of man, distinct from his temporary physical body. It is the seat of emotion, conscious thought, and the ability to discern right from wrong. 

Because of Adam's fall, we inherited a sinful nature, and the intimate relationship with God was severed. Instead of the 'soul' being a source of comfort and peace, it became 'tortured' with guilt and shame. 

Outside of surrendering one's life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, mankind cannot reconcile itself. The profound emptiness a wayward soul experiences will cause him to desperately seek consolation in all the wrong places. 

Deliverance from this troubled existence is available because of the 'gift' of salvation. You've heard the following verses over and over ... but they remain a message of hope to a lost and dying world. It is not to be suppressed but shouted from the housetop ... 

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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:16-17

'Repentance' is the key that unlocks the door separating man from his Creator. 

Mike Snelgrove - Repentance... a change in both mind and direction is a blessed opportunity made possible by the perfect love of a Savior. A Savior who seeks to set us free from that which is already enslaving us, jerking us around, telling us what to do, restricting our liberty, and ignoring our feelings with brutal disregard. Don't resent it, embrace it. 

A 'repentant' man will vehemently reject the mindset he once embraced. There is an abrupt change of disposition and a new way of thinking about God, about sin, about holiness, and about doing the Lord’s will. Repentance is prompted by 'godly sorrow' that 'leads to salvation'. (2 Corinthians 7:10)

While repentance is not a 'work' you can perform to 'earn' salvation, once it takes root it brings about change. Your thoughts, words, and deeds are transformed through the process of sanctification.

It is Jesus Christ’s mission: I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Luke 5:32). 

His warning is unequivocal: But unless you repent, you too will all perish. (Luke 13:5). 

There is an ongoing need: As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous, therefore, and repent. (Revelation 3:19)

When you repent ... 'the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus' (Philippians 4:7)

If you have a 'tortured soul', hand it over to the Lord and be free.