May many turn to Him before it is too late.ЧўЦёЧ¤Ц·ЧЁВ К»Гўphar aw-farвЂ™ В a primitive root meaning either to be gray or perhaps rather to pulverize used only as denominative from H6083В (ЧўЦёЧ¤ЦёЧЁ), to be dust: May we live our lives for His glory, in obedience to Him and telling others of the hope we have in Christ. We all come from dust, and we will all return back to it. Studd penned, вЂњOnly one life, вЂ™twill soon be past, / Only whatвЂ™s done for Christ will last.вЂќ GodвЂ™s declaration to Adam that вЂњto dust you shall returnвЂќ still rings true for every person today. вЂњTo dust you shall returnвЂќ should impact how we live and what our lives are about.ДЄs pioneer missionary C.

Instead of living for ourselves, we should live for God and do good (James 4:16вЂ“17). In light of the brevity of life, we should take account of how we live. We are called to be ChristвЂ™s ambassadors, sharing the gospel with others and urging them to be reconciled with God (2 Corinthians 5:20). James also reminds believers, вЂњWhat is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishesвЂќ (James 4:14). We cannot be so entangled in the affairs of this world that we miss out on what matters eternally. Yet resurrection and eternity with God in a heavenly dwelling are promised to those who belong to Christ (2 Corinthians 5:4). This world is not our permanent home, and our bodies are destined to return to dust. Paul calls our bodies вЂњearthly tentsвЂќ in 2 Corinthians 5:1.

Our time on earth is short compared to eternity. The certainty that вЂњto dust you shall returnвЂќ should humble us to seek and follow God. Peter urges believers to remember that we are pilgrims and sojourners, and as such we are вЂњto abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soulвЂќ (1 Peter 2:11). Rather than fear death, believers have the assurance of eternity that fuels the way we live. For those who trust in Christ, though, the curse of death will be overcome (Ephesians 2:1вЂ“10). The reality that вЂњto dust you shall returnвЂќ is for everyone. All people are sinners (Romans 5:19) and will one day die and face judgment before God (Hebrews 9:27). Because of Adam, sin entered the world (Romans 5:12), all were condemned because of sin (verse 18), and death came to all humanity (verse 15 1 Corinthians 15:22). The curse of death that came to Adam was imparted to all humans who have lived since. GodвЂ™s declaration to Adam that вЂњto dust you shall returnвЂќ is final and gave Adam a continual awareness that one day he would die physically. The glory of God is found in His breath in us, while being made from the dust of the earth is a reminder of our lowliness and dependence on Him. Humanity is made from a combination of the earth and the life-giving breath of God Himself. But God specially formed Adam from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. God formed each element of creation with His word. In Genesis 3:19, God tells Adam, вЂњFor dust you are, and to dust you shall returnвЂќ (NKJV). Death was the final consequence of AdamвЂ™s choice to sin. Ultimately, AdamвЂ™s lifelong work would end in death, and he would return back to the dust from which he was created. Genesis 2:7 teaches that God created Adam from the dust of the earth: вЂњThe Lord God formed a man from the dust of the earth and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.вЂќ After Adam sinned, God informed him that he will toil the earth his entire life.

From dust you came to dust you go