Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it (Eccl. 12:7).
This is the reversal of the Creation story, where we read: "God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul" (Gen. 2:7). When we come to the end of life's journey, the dust returns to the earth as it was; and the spirit, or breath of life, returns unto God who gave it. Our personality, our life, our eternal destiny, are safe there.
So, Christians, "set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory" (Col. 3:2-4). Our true citizenship is in heaven, "from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body ["the body of our humiliation," ARV], that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body" (Phil. 3:20, 21).
An eaglet was caught and raised with the chickens, so the great bird had no sense of his power of flight. With the other birds, he was always looking down to the ground for food. The owner decided to teach the eagle to fly, so lifted him up in his hands, but as soon as he was released he fell to the ground. Then he threw the bird above his head, but his fall was all the more severe. After many trials the eagle was put up on a fence and held there for a moment. He lifted his head, and catching a glimpse of the sun, suddenly pushed out one wing, then the other. With a shriek and a bound he rose from the fence. In another moment he began to soar, higher and higher, until soon he was lost from sight in the blazing light of the sun.
True, was are children of earth now, but through Christ our Savior, heaven is our home.
MEDITATION PRAYER: "My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips" (Ps. 63:5).
This is the reversal of the Creation story, where we read: "God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul" (Gen. 2:7). When we come to the end of life's journey, the dust returns to the earth as it was; and the spirit, or breath of life, returns unto God who gave it. Our personality, our life, our eternal destiny, are safe there.
So, Christians, "set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory" (Col. 3:2-4). Our true citizenship is in heaven, "from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body ["the body of our humiliation," ARV], that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body" (Phil. 3:20, 21).
An eaglet was caught and raised with the chickens, so the great bird had no sense of his power of flight. With the other birds, he was always looking down to the ground for food. The owner decided to teach the eagle to fly, so lifted him up in his hands, but as soon as he was released he fell to the ground. Then he threw the bird above his head, but his fall was all the more severe. After many trials the eagle was put up on a fence and held there for a moment. He lifted his head, and catching a glimpse of the sun, suddenly pushed out one wing, then the other. With a shriek and a bound he rose from the fence. In another moment he began to soar, higher and higher, until soon he was lost from sight in the blazing light of the sun.
True, was are children of earth now, but through Christ our Savior, heaven is our home.
MEDITATION PRAYER: "My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips" (Ps. 63:5).
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