Today’s 333 Devotional: “Dust Isn’t the Last Word

The narrow confines of the coffin isn’t the boundaries of our eternal existence, neither are the narrow confines of our bodies the sum total of our existence. The here and now isn’t all there is to life.

Speaking of our existence here on the earth the Lord said, “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” (Genesis 3:19)

But this isn’t all because it doesn’t deal with what lies beyond this life. Knowing this the Lord gives the prophet Isaiah a remarkable promise to all who are His.

“But your dead will live; their bodies will rise. You who dwell in the dust, wake up and shout for joy.” (Isaiah 26:19)

The dust of our existence isn’t the last word of our lives, there is much more, and it’s something we can look forward to with joy.

“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed – in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed … this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?’” (1 Corinthians 15:50-55)

This is why the pastor can say, “We therefore commit this body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in sure and certain hope of the Resurrection to eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall change our vile body, that it may be like unto his glorious body.” (1662 Book of Common Prayer)