Dr. Faustus
 by Rev. Robert J. Hermley
                                                                                                                            

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The idea of selling one's soul to the devil in order to be granted a favorite wish is not new.  Perhaps the idea was old long before the story of Dr. Faustus was written, or the German poet, Goethe immortalized the drama in his Faust, or even before Gounod composed his opera Faust.  In the opera version, Faust sells his soul to the devil for youth, so that he might become young again to win the heart of the young girl, Marguerite.

The idea persisted in modern day literature in the story of "The Devil and Daniel Webster" and in the Broadway; music "Damn Yankee's," and in many other stories.  Always, the idea is that someone sells his soul to the devil and then must pay the price.

One may smile at the idea of an old man wanting to be young again or the idea of one wanting to be a baseball hero so much that he would sell his soul for the fulfillment of that wish; but isn't it truly possible that all deliberate serious sin is a gamble with the devil for the fulfillment of some desire?

The devil does not have to appear before us.  We do not have to make a serious pact with him.  All we have to do is hazard our salvation and give in to temptation.  Serious sin separate us from God and if we do not repent there will be the devil to pay.

Perhaps a sincere question to ask ourselves often is, "What have we perhaps chanced losing our soul for?  What have we sold out soul for?"  Then, let us turn back to God for redemption in a very sincere confession.