The Sale Of The Soul

First, let me tell you about something…

(1) MAN HAS MADE

In BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, you will find THE VULCAN STATUE.

Maybe you have never heard of the Vulcan statue.

If you ever go to Birmingham, Alabama you should take time to visit this tourist site.

The reason I mention this statue is because it IS THE LARGEST CAST IRON STATUE IN THE WORLD.

The reason this large statue is there is because this statue is THE SYMBOL OF THE CITY which was ONCE KNOWN AS "STEEL CITY".

• It was DESIGNED YEARS AGO BY ITALIAN SCULPTOR GIUSEPPE MORETTI.

• IT'S MADE OF 29 CAST-IRON SECTIONS FASTENED TOGETHER FROM THE INSIDE.

• THE HEAVIEST SECTION IS HIS HEAD. IT WEIGHS OVER 5 TONS. (You might say he has the BIG HEAD!)

• IRON WORKERS DESIGNED THE CONNECTIONS FOR THE STATUE, WHICH HAS NO INTERNAL FRAMEWORK AND CAN STAND ON ITS OWN.

• THE COMPLETED WEIGHT OF THE FIGURE IS 50 TONS.

• WHEN YOU FACTOR THE ANVIL, BLOCK, HAMMER, AND SPEAR POINT, THE WHOLE THING WEIGHS A TOTAL OF 60 TONS.

• HE STANDS A TOP RED MOUNTAIN ON A PEDESTAL 123-FEET HIGH.

• HIS CHEST MEASURES 22 FEET 6 INCHES.

• HIS WAIST 18 FEET 3 INCHES.

• FOR ALL HIS HISTORY, HIS HERITAGE AND GREAT SIZE, VULCAN IS JUST A STATUE.

• HE HAS A BODY BUT NO LIFE, NO MIND, SOUL OR SPIRIT.

If you ever go to Birmingham, Alabama you should make time to visit this large chunk of cast iron.

I have told you about something in detail that MAN HAS MADE.

But let me tell you about something…

(2) God has made

I am talking about the CREATION OF MANHOOD.

• Mankind was CREATED BY GOD THE FATHER IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN.

• EACH MAN HAS 206 BONES MAKING UP A FRAME CALLED A SKELETON.

• HE CAN WEIGH ANYWHERE FROM 2 POUNDS AT BIRTH TO hundreds of POUNDS WHEN FULLLY GROWN.

• MAN HAS ORGANS THAT PROVIDE FOR HIS NOURISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE.

• HE IS POWERED BY THE HEART. A FIST SIZED PUMP THAT FORCES BLOOD THROUGH THE 60,000 MILES OF ARTERIES, CAPILLARIES AND VEINS IN HIS BODY.

• MAN HAS A SELF CONTAINED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CALLED THE NERVOUS SYSTEM.

• THE AVERAGE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF THIS VERSATILE BODY IS A LITTLE MORE THAN 70 YEARS.

• BUT MOST OF ALL…MAN HAS ONE MORE THING DEEP INSIDE…A LIVING SOUL!

THE SOUL OF MAN IS INVISIBLE SOMETHING THAT GIVES HIM SUPREMACY OVER ALL OTHER LIFE ON THIS PLANET.

Not only is the soul INVISIBLE, it is has proven to be weightless!!!

HOW DO WE KNOW THIS?

Illus: I read about a funeral home that got permission from six Christians before they died they were weighed. When they died immediately after they died they were weighed again and their weight was the same thing.

So they concluded from this experiment the soul of man is weightless!!!

Illus: ACCORDING TO science out body is not worth that much.

Our body:

• Contains $7.12 worth of phosphorous,

• $5.95 worth of potassium,

• About four bucks worth of a dozen other substances for a total of $17.18.

According to God our soul is worth a lot more.

Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Keep these two questions in mind.

1) For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

2) What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

OUR SOUL IS OUR MOST VALUABLE POSSESSION WE POSSESS.

MATTHEW 10:28 - DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THOSE WHO KILL THE BODY BUT CANNOT KILL THE SOUL. RATHER, BE AFRAID OF THE ONE WHO CAN DESTROY BOTH SOUL AND BODY IN HELL.

• OUR SOUL WAS CREATED BY GOD TO LIVE FOREVER AFTER EVERYTHING ELSE HAS TURNED TO DUST. WHEN THE SUN AND STARS HAVE BURNED OUT YOUR SOUL WILL STILL EXIST.

• OUR SOUL IS WORTH MORE THAN ALL THE HOUSES, PROPERTY, STOCKS, BONDS, DIAMONDS, SILVER AND GOLD IN THE WHOLE WORLD.

• OUR BODY CAN RETURN TO DUST. BUT OUR SOUL WILL NEVER CEASE TO EXIST.

OUR BODIES SENDS A MESSGAE AND WE RESPOND TO ITS NEEDS.

1) THE BODY SAYS, “I’M HUNGRY”, I’M THIRSTY” AND WE FIND SOMETHING TO EAT OR DRINK.

2) THE BODY SAYS, “I’M HOT OR COLD. AND WE ADJUST THE TEMPERATURE.

3) THE BODY SAYS, “I’M HURT”, “I HAVE PAIN”, OR SOME OTHER NEED AND WE FIND SOMETHING TO RELIEVE THAT PAIN.

WE PAMPER THE BODY,

• WE FEED THE BODY,

• WE REST THE BODY.

• WE LOVE THE BODY.

• BUT SOMETIMES THE SOUL IS LEFT FOR DAYS, WEEKS, MONTHS, YEARS WITHOUT ATTENTION AND CARE.