“I Regret That I Have but One Soul to Give to My God.”
With respect to the legendary words of Nathan Hale, the words are meant to direct our minds to the commitment the Christian must have toward serving the God of Heaven. Paul the apostle said by inspiration, “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:3) Consider that statement! How many lives do we have while in this tabernacle called “the flesh?” Into that flesh, God breathed, and the flesh became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7) As the soul within this flesh matures, it learns the distinctive difference between good and evil (James 4:17), and by the sharp two-edged sword, known as the word of God (Hebrews 4:12) learns God’s plan for his salvation. Being pricked in his heart (his conscience – 1 Peter 3:21), the soul renders obedience to the saving gospel (Romans 1:16-17) by hearing it, believing it, confessing Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, repents of his sins, and is immersed in the waters of baptism for the remission of his sins (Acts 2: 38; Romans 6:1-6; 1 Peter 3:18-22; et al). From that, he rises to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:1-4), adding to his faithful conduct virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity (2 Peter 1:1-10). This he does because his LIFE is now hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3: 1- 17), demanding that all he says and does, he does with the authority of Christ Jesus (Colossians 3:17), or he doesn’t do it at all! (ibid.) Why? Because his life now belongs to Christ! (Galatians 2:20)
Now let’s reexamine the title: If you had more than one soul to give to God, would you give it to Him? If not, why not? Might it be that some struggle to give to God that one soul they do have?
Nathan Hale’s history is worth reading if for no other reason than to the examine the immeasurable courage in defense of the “new country’s” values written in the Declaration of Independence. He was only twenty-one years old when he was captured by the British, convicted as a spy and executed by hanging. His fable words were recorded by a witness to the execution, who added in his diary his admiration of Hale’s unflinching demeanor displayed as he died for his country. We still admire that display of patriotism, noting it is both a verbal and conducted admission to loyalty and dedication. While we consider it admirable regarding patriots, what of saints who stand fast in the Lord? (Philippians 4:1)
Christ Jesus gave His life to save us from sin. (John 3:16) There is no greater love than the love He freely gave (John 15:13). The apostle John said we should exemplify this same love toward our brethren (1 John 3:16). Yet, there are those who, though having obeyed the gospel at some time in their life, have made havoc of the Lord’s kingdom, His doctrine, and even denied Jesus Himself (2 Peter 2: 1-3). Obviously, such souls regret having given Him any part of their lives, inasmuch as they returned to the weak and beggarly elements of this world (Galatians 4:9). These, in essence, join hands with the enemy and count the blood of the covenant wherewith they were sanctified as an unholy thing, and do despite to the spirit of grace, crucifying to themselves the Lord Jesus again! (Hebrews 10:29; 6:4-6).
But the righteous, faithful, loyal, dedicated, committed souls, those who determined to serve God without fail, earnestly defend the truth! (Philippians 1:17) We fear not what man will do to us (Hebrews 13:5-6), but instead, “regret we have but one soul to give to our God!” As the apostle Paul, [we’d] far rather die and go be with God, for it is far better.” (Philippians 1:20-28) Yes, if we had the ability, we’d die again and again to prove our undying allegiance to God the Father and His eternal Son, Jesus! In fact, as Paul did, some of us die daily (1 Corinthians 15:31) as we are “killed” emotionally by those who do not favor our fellowship with the Father (1 John 1), or by the caustic rebellion of souls who emphatically oppose God’s righteousness being the rule of our earthly lives (1 Peter 4: 3-5), or in some other fashion endeavor to destroy our zeal for living for the Master. Still, determined to remain undaunted by the forces that oppose us, we remain steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Thus, we have but one soul to give to the service of our God! The only regret left us is “time.” Most of us who now know and love the truth would have obeyed it long before we did if we had only known then what we know now! We’ve grown in the grace and knowledge of Christ (2 Peter 3:18) and value our daily renewal (2 Corinthians 4:16) with frequent thanksgiving to God the Father. Yes, if we had two or more souls to give to God, we’d glad spend and be spent for Him (2 Corinthians 12:15). You see; by giving your soul to God, we receive the promise of eternal LIFE, provided we remain faithful even through our physical deaths. (Revelation 2:10) Worth it? Oh, indeed! For with God, we cannot lose, and without Him, we cannot win!