The Loss of Your Soul: Urgent Reflections on Your Eternity

The loss of one’s soul encompasses the giving up of all that is precious as eternal beings. It means missing out on Heaven, with its array of honors, joys, and splendors. It signifies being deprived of every aspect that could enhance our everlasting well-being.

To lose the soul also means to embrace and endure all that is implied by the horrifying descriptions of Hell. Hell represents the perpetual suffering of God’s wrath. It is not merely facing the anger of the Almighty but plunging into it as descending into a lake of fire and sulfur—a graphic depiction of unending torment and despair.

Every tear that has been or will be shed upon the earth, every groan that has been or will be expressed, and every instance of suffering that has been or will be experienced by all the world’s inhabitants throughout history—none of these, even collectively, can compare to the agony encapsulated in the loss of a single human soul to hell.

Consider the gravity of this: the eternal loss of a soul isn’t an infrequent event but occurs with alarming regularity. The catastrophe of losing one’s soul is such a profound disaster that even if it were to transpire only once a year or once in a century—making its likelihood seem remote—it would still be profoundly unwise not to harbor concern for one’s own soul.

The mere possibility of such a loss should compel us to take heed and reflect upon our spiritual state.

How much more pressing is the situation when, regrettably, it is a daily tragedy? In fact, an hourly tragedy. At this time, it is far less common for individuals to find their way to Heaven than it is for them to descend into Hell. Jesus Himself indicated that, during His ministry, the path to destruction was heavily populated; many Jews missed the Way, while only a few chose the route to life. Today, Hell seems to engulf countless souls into damnation with its gaping claws! This thought is deeply unsettling. If you do not trust in Christ, the reality that you will be among those lost souls should shatter your peace.

Therefore, profound concern for the salvation of your soul is the most logical response imaginable! How can anyone, aware of having a soul, remain indifferent to its eternal fate?

Is such a person even human, or do they resemble the mind of an unthinking animal? Are they exercising reason, or are they acting like someone devoid of sanity? To walk perpetually on the brink of a cliff leading to the abyss and yet remain apathetic about salvation is bewildering and dangerous. Such indifference is perilous, shocking, and will bring many to ruin.

Gaze into the abyss of the bottomless pit—could one ever be overly concerned about escaping its eternal torments? Peer into the splendors of Heaven—could one ever be overly eager to attain its beautiful rewards? Consider the vast expanse of eternity—could one ever be overly diligent in ensuring everlasting life?

Our Lord said, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, fear him, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” If you have not turned from sin in repentance and trusted in Christ alone for righteousness, I plead that you consider the loss of your soul.

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This article was originally written by John Angell James in 1853 and was modernized and edited by Dale Partridge. This work, along with thousands more, is available in audio and ebook format in the Relearn App.