The Keys to Heaven...Get Them Here

I just can't leave the topic of the Spirit yet. It is so rich and multifaceted. I thought of the difference between the Spirit and the soul.  Read on...

The Spirit is given to us when we make the decision to follow Jesus and live for him. After this decision, the Holy Spirit lives in us. We can decided to listen to the Holy Spirit or suppress it and ignore it.  Our soul is the non-physical part of our being. When we die, I believe the soul and Spirit are separated by the Word of God like Hebrews 4:12 describes. The Spirit is the perfect Spirit of Jesus Christ but the soul will be judged (Matthew 16:26).  Think of it like this: the good (Spirit) will be separated from evil (soul); the light (Spirit) will be separated from dark (soul). Our soul is what we have decided to be in our earthy life. To explain it deeper, I think our soul is what we have allowed our character to become. Our soul is the keeper of our attitudes, our motives and our deeds. What does your character say about you? It is filled with unforgiveness, anger,  judgement, comforts of the world,  a divided heart. Remember, your friends may not be able to see some of the secrets on your soul but God does. We may try to be full of good character but we are bent toward evil...just read Romans. The only way we look good to God is because Jesus has stepped in front of us and claimed us for his own.

This is a good place to read Matthew 16:19. "I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth will be be loosed in heaven."  Why is it that if the keys to the kingdom of heaven are explained in this verse, I have never heard a preacher ever talk about it?  I heard a highly respected lady teach this concept and  I think about it often. So, what you bind on your soul goes with you to heaven's door. Is bitterness, laziness, hatred, jealously, sexual immorality bound to your soul where it can be seen by the judge?  Or is love, patience, kindness, forgiveness, gentleness,  peace, joy, self-control and faithfulness bound to your soul that can be seen by the judge?  The Word says you can loose sins from your soul. You just need to replace the sinful attributes of your character with the fruit of the Spirit.  When you rid yourself of the sins in this world you will go to the door of heaven looking beautiful and white like snow. You will be blessed for acting like Jesus is in your soul instead of living like the world is in your soul.

 It is impossible to rid ourselves of all our sins. That is why Jesus is there to step in front of us. When God looks at us through Jesus his Son, we look perfect because God is looking through the perfect righteousness of Jesus. So, above all, put on Jesus as your Savior and your righteousness knowing your deeds, your attitude, your character, and your motives  will not be perfect, but that Jesus, your rescuer, is perfect!

Blessings!!