How important is your freedom? To be able to make your own decisions, with no accountability, responsibility- not needing to answer to anyone except yourself. How important is that for you?

What about control? This is very different than mere freedom. Freedom is doing what you want. Control is controlling what you want and then doing it. Control is never having to listen to anyone but yourself. Control is totally manipulating every aspect or your life. Control is choosing what you want, what you believe, what is true. How important is that?

How about fun? This is a lot more tempting than it sounds. I mean, getting drunk is fun. So are boys. That feeling of being on top of the world? You don't care if it's right, so it's not freedom, and you don't care about being in charge, so it's not control. It's just excitement. Exhilaration. Fun. How important is it?

Here we go: emotions. Feeling good. Loving the guy, and being loved by the guy. Having lots of friends who make you feel wanted. Feeling comfortable, accepted. This is certainly very important.

Or maybe you just don't care. Maybe you don't care about being free, or in control, or having fun, or even feeling good. Maybe you just. Don't. Care. Who cares about the future? Who cares about what's going to happen? It doesn't matter. Maybe you've totally let go, you don't care, and you don't want to.

Now here comes the question: is any of this greater than your own soul? Heaven is good, Hell is bad,blah, blah, blah. Yeah, I know, it's important. Love God. Be saved. All that jazz. Well, I've been there, and I'd rather be in control. I'd rather be free. I'd rather have fun. I'd rather feel good. I just don't care.

You should care. When you die, despite how much freedom you lived by, you were ruled by sin. No matter how much control you fancied yourself to have, you could not control your own destination. You certainly won't have fun burning in a black pit. It won't feel good, either. You'll be alone. And I swear, you will care. And here's the clincher- it never ends. Ever. It is eternal. It's hard for our finite human minds to grasp infinity, but once your allotment of time is up in this world, you go to the next, and you stay there. Literally forever, you stay there.  And I guarantee you- your freedom, your control, your fun, your feelings- they aren't worth it. And trust me- you will care, but it will be too late. Don't trade your soul for something temporary or unattainable. Live in the freedom of delivery from sin! Rejoice in God's control over His creation! Enjoy a spirit-driven life! Live in peace and contentment and acceptance in a God who loves you! Marvel in complete awe of his undying affection, his incredible mercy! Life is found only in Christ! Don't trade him for things that don't matter!