You Are Dust
Even though the world around us is full of marks of death and dying we try to deny our own mortality. We like to live in La-La Land and pretend we are not aging and our life will go on forever. But the sooner we face the reality: we are dust and we will return to dust, the better we can embrace living fully.
Like a parent feels compassion
for their children—
that’s how the LORD feels compassion for those who honor him.
Because God knows how we’re made,
God remembers we’re just dust.
The days of a human life are like grass:
they bloom like a wildflower;
but when the wind blows through it,
it’s gone;
even the ground where it stood
doesn’t remember it.
But the LORD’s faithful love is from forever ago to forever from now
for those who honor him.
(Psalm 103: 13-17, CEB, emphasis added)
Remember you are dust. The days of a human life are like grass. But God is eternal. And he is calling us to be his. God’s faithful love is from forever ago to forever from now for those who honor him. How are we going to respond?
Are we going to let the gifts of God – grace, mercy, freedom, faith – gather dust while we honor our own desires? Or are we going to honor God and put God’s amazing gifts in use for his glory?
“Stop collecting treasures for your own benefit on earth, where moth and rust eat them and where thieves break in and steal them. Instead, collect treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moth and rust don’t eat them and where thieves don’t break in and steal them.” (Matthew 6: 19-20, CEB)
Honoring God runs counter to our western culture of narcissism.
But only by losing our life we are able to find it.
Those who don’t pick up their crosses and follow me aren’t worthy of me. Those who find their lives will lose them, and those who lose their lives because of me will find them. (Matthew 10: 38-39, CEB)
Only by embracing God’s will for our life we are able to find purpose and meaning.
Only be embracing God’s grace through faith in Christ we will live forever.
Let us pray with the words of Alan Redpath:
May God give to us hearts that bleed,
eyes that are wide open to see,
minds that are clear to interpret God’s purposes,
wills that are obedient,
and a determination that is utterly unflinching
as we set about the tasks He would have us do.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Q4U: Are you in terms with your own mortality? Are you ready to live fully?
Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you count the cost of following Christ!
Image courtesy of Jason Alvarado. Linking up today with Thought-Provoking Thursdays &
12 thoughts on “You Are Dust”
I have spent many years in “la la land” One must come to the realization that it is God’s will be done not our own. I am nothing without Jesus Christ.
Yes, acknowledging that we are nothing without Jesus Christ is the beginning of real freedom! Thank you, Susa, for sharing. God bless you!
“a heart that bleeds”
I think He’s given me one of those. Now I have to work on being more grateful for it. Thank you, Mari-Anna.
Thanks for sharing, Lisa. I pray God will enable you to see your heart that bleeds as a blessing and an asset for God’s kingdom.
I’m going to take this thought and try to go through the rest of my day remembering I am just dust. Great read.
-Bob
Thanks so much, Bob! Our outlook on life does indeed change if we do remember we are just dust. Abundant blessings to you and yours!
“But the sooner we face the reality: we are dust and we will return to dust, the better we can embrace living fully.”
There is such peace in this realization! Thanks for inspiring! Joy
Yes, peace comes when we embrace God’s will for us. Thank you, Joy! Abundant blessings to you!
I like this: ”
Are we going to let the gifts of God – grace, mercy, freedom, faith – gather dust while we honor our own desires? ”
What a challenge! Angie in Guernsey, linking to Faith Barista
The Common English Bible sounds intriguing – glad you are doing this for Lent, Mari-Anna!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Angie. Glad to connect with you. Faith is indeed an adventure in grace! Blessings to you as you journey on!
I have been reading the Common English Bible since being lucky enough to win one from you last year! I quite like it.
Yes, we are dust, nothing more, here today and soon gone with the wind, yet we cling so very hard to nothing….
Glad to hear the Bible has been a blessing. And, yes, it is a blessing to remember that we are dust so we can cling to God who is eternal. Abundant blessings to you, sis! Thank you for stopping by!