One morning at family devotions, a dad read a story about  the creation account in Genesis and related how God “formed man of the dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (Gen. 2:7) but that man disobeyed God’s command not to eat of the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Gen. 2:17) and as a result death entered God’s perfect creation.  Man would now have to work hard to get the earth to produce and then he would eventually die and his body would return to the dust from which it was made, “and the spirit will return to God who gave it” (Gen. 3:19; Eccl. 12:6,7). Little “Johnny” (age four) must have been listening because later that day he came running  to his mom excited about what he just found under his bed when looking for his football.  “Mom, remember what dad read this morning about man being made from dust and returning to dust when he dies?  Well, there is someone under my bed either coming or going!”

     Dust is something we all have to deal with, whether in our house or workshop or driving on a dry logging road in the forest.  Dust is part of our life on a daily basis.  We sweep and vacuum our house on a regular basis and soon have to empty the bag and put in a new one.  So, where does all that dust come from and what is it?  Well, dust is made up of a variety of things: dead skin cells, dust mites, dead insects, soil from outside which comes in on shoes and through open doors and windows, pollen, tiny plastic particles, bacteria, hair and clothing fibers, dander and hair from pets, food crumbs, to name a few (pretty disgusting!).

     Someone said, “We were formed from dust and when we die our body returns to dust and in between we gather quite a bit of dust!”  How true!  In the Upper Room when Jesus washed the disciples feet (demonstrating the role of a servant which He desired for them), Peter, realizing who Jesus was, said, ” ‘Never shall you wash my feet!’  (But) Jesus answered him, ‘If I do not wash you, you have no part (fellowship) with Me.‘ Simon Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.’ Jesus said to him, ‘He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean’ ” (Jn. 13:8-10).  The disciples wore sandals and their feet got dusty on the dirt roads so they would only need to have their feet washed, but not to bathe again.  Jesus was teaching how in this life, if we have come to Him for salvation and been made clean, we will still get “our feet dirty” as we walk in this sinful world, but don’t need to be saved again, only to confess our sins, to “have part (fellowship) with Him” (cf I Jn. 1:9).  

     The Apostle Paul, with the background of Genesis 2:7 and 3:19 that we are formed from dust (dirt or clay) speaks of how “we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves” (II Cor. 4:7).  Paul was referring to how God, in His sovereignty, has entrusted the Gospel (the “treasure”) to us who are just “earthen vessels,” that is  just cheap, fragile, breakable, replaceable, common, ordinary clay pots.   The power is of God and not us.  The messenger’s frailty and weakness is not fatal to what God is doing–it is essential!  When Paul prayed for deliverance from his “thorn in the flesh” (II Cor. 12:7,8), God did not heal him, but said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”   Paul responded saying, “Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weakness, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” (vv. 9,10). 

     We may just be “clay pots,” but God has entrusted us with His message of reconciliation, the Gospel. What a privilege!  Our clay pots may be cracking and crumbling and will soon return to dust, but Paul encourages: “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet the inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (II Cor. 4:16-18).    Praise the Lord!

     So, as you are “doing your dusting,” let it remind you that we are created beings and as such, dependent on the Lord who will demonstrate His power though you and continue to renew your inner man as you trust Him and His Word. And we can look forward to the day when we receive a new, glorious, immortal body fashioned like Jesus’ resurrection body (I Cor. 15:51,52;  Phil. 3:20,21). 

Forever His,

Pastor Dave