His Soul is on a journey... but to where?

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Matt 10: 28    

I have a very good catholic friend. I kept the "c" lower case because he really doesn't attend
mass that often and I am not sure he would consider himself a practicing Catholic. I met this friend as a co-worker at my last part-time job and in the course of conversation he indicated
that he does not feel a close relationship with God.

This is a wonderfully generous and kind individual who is fun to talk with. He had
a rather troubled childhood, became a reading specialist and taught until retirement. We spend at least one day per week over breakfast, usually solving a crossword puzzle
together.

He is a believer in reincarnation and says that there used to be reincarnation in the Bible
but it was taken out. He has examined past life experiences through a seer and believes
that he has been through many lives, each time choosing to come back to work on some
weakness in order to become a better person. As the title suggests, he believes that his
soul is on a journey.

Well, I am worried about this friend of mine! I can certainly agree that our souls, an
integrated part of our being, will some day be on a journey. I begin to differ when it comes
to WHO is in control of that journey. When one suggests that he is a part of a decision
about the whereabouts of the soul, I believe he is in danger of removing God from
the equation. In a way, this is dangerously close to claiming that the person IS God.

I guess I believe that you can't have it both ways. Either God is sovereign, His word is
truth and His plan for our souls is in His holy hands, or one is most likely NOT going to
ever have a relationship with God. 

So I am left with respecting this friend as a friend but not having any confidence in what
he seems to be saying about the journey of his soul. Did I mention that Satan is very
deceptive. That he seeks souls who wander away from the reality of this God created
universe? That one must be overly cautious about what one allows as doctrine.. to the
extent that a wrong turn could begin a journey whose eventual destination might be
eternally destructive?

He's my friend... and I am very very concerned about him. I think I will continue to
pray!