The Questions at the Center of the Universe

As another week unfolds, the world's focus turns to resolutions, news cycles, trending topics, and technological advances. But hidden beneath the noise and rush of daily life lie two questions so monumental that everything else pales in comparison. These questions are not new. They echo from the pages of Scripture and demand the attention of every soul, yet they are largely ignored.

The apostle Peter, in just two verses, addresses both questions with clarity and urgency. “Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:11–12).

These verses bring into sharp focus the two greatest questions in the universe:

1. How can the soul of man be saved?

2. How can the glory of God be made known?

1. The Salvation of the Soul

Peter calls believers to abstain from the passions of the flesh. Why? Because these desires wage war against the soul. There are real, active, anti-soul forces in this world, and they don’t come at us with horns and red capes. They come wrapped in comfort, pleasure, distraction, and subtle compromise.

We live in a culture that invests heavily in education, wellness, safety, and success. Billions of dollars are spent annually on self-improvement and personal growth. And yet, virtually none of it addresses the most critical battle the battle for your soul.

Jesus asked, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36). It’s a sobering question. Lose your soul, and you’ve lost everything. And there is no buying it back. Eternity is not negotiable.

Yet our modern world rarely mentions the soul at all. Turn on the news, scroll through social media, attend a university class it’s all about the here and now. Public discourse is fixated on politics, health trends, climate, innovation. But what about the human soul?

Jesus described a rich man who lived in luxury while a beggar named Lazarus suffered at his gate. When both died, Lazarus was comforted in paradise, while the rich man suffered in torment (Luke 16:19–31). The rich man begged for relief, but none could cross the chasm. It was too late.

The war for your soul is real, and the stakes are eternal. The world may scoff at sin, ignore eternity, and trivialize death, but Scripture teaches that eternal destinies hang in the balance.

2. The Glory of God

While the first question concerns our eternal salvation, the second reveals our eternal purpose. Peter writes, “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that... they may see your good deeds and glorify God” (1 Peter 2:12).

In other words, the ultimate aim of our lives is not self-preservation but God’s exaltation.

We weren’t made to be the center of attention. We were made to be mirrors reflecting the greatness, the holiness, the beauty of God to a watching world. When people see our lives, the hope is not that they see us, but that they see Him.

This flies in the face of modern values. In a culture obsessed with self-expression, self-care, and self-promotion, the biblical call is self-denial not as a punishment, but as a means to reveal God’s glory.

This is what makes the Christian life radically different. Every act of kindness, every word of truth, every expression of joy in suffering becomes a signpost pointing to a greater reality to the King who reigns over all.

God’s glory is not just a theological concept. It is the reason behind every sunrise, every breath, every heartbeat. And yet, His name is often mocked, ignored, or misused. Our calling is to live in such a way that others will see our good works and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Why These Questions Matter Now

The reason these two questions the salvation of the soul and the glorification of God feel so foreign to our culture is because, as Peter says, we are “sojourners and exiles.” This world is not our home. Our values will not align with popular culture. We will be misunderstood, misrepresented, even maligned.

But that's okay. We weren't called to blend in.

Jesus Himself was crucified not for being silent, but for shining too brightly in a dark world. And He warned us, “If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20). Our job isn’t to be liked it’s to be faithful.

Faithfulness may look like living with integrity in a dishonest workplace. Or loving your spouse when the world tells you to move on. Or raising your children to know and fear the Lord in a culture that teaches them to fear missing out.

And yes, it may even look like asking hard questions that no one else is asking: Am I fighting for my soul? Am I living for God’s glory?

The Tragic Blindness of the World

It’s staggering to consider how little attention is given to these matters. We’re inundated with information on how to fight climate change, crime, disease, and financial instability. But where are the instructions on fighting for your soul?

Secular society is passionately committed to the inconsequential. One day, that commitment will be seen for what it truly was: a distraction from what mattered most. On that day, the veil will be lifted, and eternity will come into view. And many will wonder how they lived their entire lives without ever addressing the only two questions that matter.

Your Life Has Eternal Significance

Your soul matters more than your job, your income, your appearance, or your reputation. And God’s glory is more worthy of your energy than any personal platform you could ever build.

Peter’s message is simple, but weighty: abstain from what kills your soul, and live in a way that glorifies God.

So let these two questions frame your life:

• Am I guarding my soul against the passions of the flesh?

• Am I living today to bring glory to God?

These are not questions for the super spiritual. They are for everyone because every soul will spend eternity somewhere, and every life will either magnify God or diminish Him in the eyes of others.

Don’t let another week pass without answering them.

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