THE COMPLETE YOU

1 Thessalonians 5:22-23 Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now in the midst of that verse the Word is saying ‘sanctify you WHOLLY’. That word WHOLLY is a moment of Jesus drawing attention to the complete man or woman. We are all as is said here comprised of three parts, a spirit, a soul and a body.

The Word says we are a spirit soul and a body. Now some may think in these terms. I am a spirit and I have a soul and a body. Consider carefully now. I propose the thought of this concerning these three elements of body soul and spirit. YOU,,,the part of your understanding that is YOU. YOU do NOT have A soul. YOU ARE THE SOUL. YOUR SOUL HAS A BODY. YOUR SPIRIT (BREATH/GIFT OF GOD) IN YOU IS YOUR TEMPORARY LIFE/EXISTENCE HERE.

Genesis 2:7 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.

This portion, the spirit/breath is the part of you/us all that is on loan temporarily in these perishing vessels. Each day lived is one day closer to our last day to live and the eternity of our choice, Heaven with Jesus or the lake of fire prepared for the Devil and his angels. (see the page 'Jesus says: Hell is').

2 Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

What is being said here is clearly understood about our outward man perishing. The ageing process is non stop for everyone with every second that passes. Also this passage draws attention again to our earlier reading that ‘man shall not live by bread alone’ when it mentions that the inward man is renewed day by day. The only way to feed the inner man is with God’s Word. Equally important is prayer yet it is not the same as reading the Word. Reading the Word is ,, INGESTING it, allowing Him in to speak to us. In an analogical sense prayer and reading the Word may be likened unto 'chewing and swallowing'. Separate bodily functions yet conjoined for optimum results.

Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

When someone dies it is well worth noting according to scripture what happens. Ecclesiastes chapter 12:7 above proclaims. The spirits (life/breath) belonging to all who die (saved and unsaved alike) return to God who gave them. Mankind’s life is in our breath handed down from Adam (from God to Adam, Gen 2:7). When our breath is gone our physical here and now life is over. That gift (spirit/breath) goes back to the giver, God. Our life (breath/spirit) really is a gift. I believe it is no coincidence that time and space we occupy with our rationale is known as ‘present’. Again our life (spirit) truly is a gift. WE, our soul (mind will emotions) have no power over the spirit. WE (our soul) does control our mind, will and emotions only while there is breath. But that is the soul’s limit, without exception. God determines our last breath. How important at this point (our last breath) to have accepted Jesus into our heart and our names be in the Lamb's book of life. At this precise instant I believe our soul (mind will emotions) are transferred into eternal bliss much too wonderful for words or eternal damnation much too horrific to describe. There is I believe with emphasis even absoutely nothing in the grave. Ultimately ashes and dust awaiting the resurrection, Jesus return 1 Thessalonians 4: 14-17. The word 'sleep' in verse 15 lends creedence to some thinking that somehow that 'persona' is still attached. Scripture clearly dictates the separation of the 'whole embodiment', body (grave) soul (heaven or hell) and spirit (breath back to God).

Jesus example of the rich man and Lazarus is example of a glimpse of what happens in both arenas people choosing wisely and those choosing unwisely. Jesus draws emphasis while explaining these two situations that 'in thy lifetime' decided their eternities.

Our body is the dying portion of our existence. Nothing can change that. See above Ecclesiastes 12:7.

Ecclesiastes 8:8 There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.

The preceding verse simply put verifies what everybody realizes. The strongest bad man in the world cannot be excused from the appointment God has for him. The war of the spirit (breath, flesh) to stay alive will never win that fight or be excused from that appointment.

James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

James makes known the briefness of our life (spirit/breath) in the preceding verse.

2nd Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

At the end of our alotted time in the present tense world we occupy there is a merging I believe that without fail takes place between believers and non believers. No more I believe are those catergorized now as non believers for in eternity all are believers. The saved and unsaved alike according to God's Word now become resident in the spirit world. The temporary existence of our sight fades as the eternal place of our choosing comes into view forever.

In this life from time to time people running for elected offices will ask for our vote. From the white house in washington to our local court house and everything in between people clamor even for our vote.

We all have a very personal election to make before our temporary stay here is over.

2nd Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

How important it is for us while we are in our lifetime to elect Jesus calling for our life.