With Whom Do You Trust Your Soul?

Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. 2 Timothy 1:12 (NIV)

 Props: dissolving packing peanuts (available at Uhaul stores or at Uhaul online) and non-dissolving packing peanuts, 2 jars with lids (filled with water)

             It’s very important to know the one you are trusting with your life.  How many of you have ever heard the expression, “Looks can be deceiving”?  That means things can look different than they really are.  Let me show you what I mean.  (Display 2 jars filled with water.  Call forward a volunteer from each team to be your testers).  I have 2 jars filled with water.  This is pure, clean water.  There’s nothing different about it.  (Ask 2 testers to look closely at the water, smell it and even taste it.  Have them confirm that it is pure water).  One of these jars is going to represent God.  The other is going to represent ourselves; putting our trust in our own power, strength, goodness and abilities.  (Display packing peanuts.  Be sure they are separated and the dissolving peanuts go in the jar representing self.  However, do not call attention to any differences between the packing peanuts).  These packing peanuts are going to represent your life: your body (the part of you that only lives for a number of years on the earth), and your soul and spirit (the part of you that lives forever). 

Some people put their trust in God.  (Place the non-dissolving packing peanuts in the “God” jar).   They give him their life, their wants, their thoughts, their love, their worship, their time.  They trust in Him to forgive their sins and to take them to Heaven. 

            Others don’t put their trust in God.  They put their trust in themselves.  They think they can be good enough to get to Heaven; that they can take care of themselves.  (Place the dissolving packing peanuts in the “self” jar).  They don’t trust God because they don’t know Him.  They think, “I can handle life on my own.” 

            (Place lid on each jar and shake each one).   

As you can see, looks can be deceiving.  You think you can handle life by yourself.  But look what happened.  Life fell apart.  But you can trust your soul with God.  He will guard, protect and keep what you give Him.