Dirt

In the Creation account Genesis 2:7 tells us, "Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being."  So, here we begin - from dirt.  And here we end, back into dirt - from dust to dust. 

In consideration of man's beginning, and ending, how silly then is the hubris of man.  It is better to be grounded in the dirt than to have one's head in a cloud - for such pride indeed goes before a fall... a fall back down to the dirt of the earth.  Man was not made to fly.  Man was made to walk the earth.

In John 12:24 Jesus tells us, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit."

Do we balk against falling to the earth, getting low as dirt, and dying?  I sure did.  And, it caused me much trouble, until I became willing.  We must come to see not only the benefit of falling to the dirt and dying, but the truth of such a thing - the utter purpose and practicality of such action.  How beneficial is a single seed apart from the dirt?  Useless.

God will humble us, and bring us low.  This is a mercy!  In Job 40:10-14 God challenges Job, saying, "Adorn yourself with eminence and dignity, and clothe yourself with honor and majesty.  Pour out the overflowings of your anger, and look on everyone who is proud, and make him low.  Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him, and tread down the wicked where they stand.  Hide them in the dust together; bind them in the hidden place.  Then I will also confess to you, that your own right hand can save you."  

These things God can do.  These things Job could not do.  None of us can!  Job couldn't even save himself.  None of us can!  One of the most cruel and ignorant sayings ever to cross the lips of man is that of telling someone to pull their own self up by their own bootstraps.  This is a ludicrous command, alongside being an utter impossibility.  Just as impossible is the idea that we can, or even should, control others.  All this is the hubris of man.  We cannot save ourselves, let alone others.  Only God can.  And, God will allow us to be humbled to this truth so we may be saved.

Isaiah 29:4 says, "Then you will be brought low; From the earth you will speak, And from the dust where you are prostrate Your words will come. Your voice will also be like that of a spirit from the ground, And your speech will whisper from the dust."

1 Samuel 2:6-8 says, "The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up.  The LORD makes poor and rich; He brings low, He also exalts.  He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with nobles, and inherit a seat of honor; for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and He set the world on them."

Psalm 113:5-9 says, "Who is like the LORD our God, Who is enthroned on high,  Who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth?  He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of His people."

In Psalm 119:25 the Psalmist laments, "My soul cleaves to the dust; revive me according to Your word."

In Psalm 22, the Psalmist grieves saying, "I am a worm and not a man, a reproach of men and despised by the people...  I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within me.  My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue cleaves to my jaws; and You lay me in the dust of death."

Then he declares, in the same Psalm, "The afflicted will eat and be satisfied; those who seek Him will praise the LORD. Let your heart live forever!  All the prosperous of the earth will eat and worship, all those who go down to the dust will bow before Him, even he who cannot keep his soul alive."

In Psalm 116 the Psalmist relates that, "The cords of death encompassed me and the terrors of Sheol (Hell) came upon me; I found distress and sorrow.  Then I called upon the name of the LORD: 'O LORD, I beseech You, save my life!'  Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; Yes, our God is compassionate.  The LORD preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me.  Return to your rest, O my soul, For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.  For You have rescued my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling."

Finally, Isaiah 26 admonishes us to, "Trust in the LORD forever, For in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock.  For He has brought low those who dwell on high, the unassailable city; He lays it low, He lays it low to the ground, He casts it to the dust.  The foot will trample it, The feet of the afflicted, the steps of the helpless."

It is best to consider the truth of who we are and where we came from.  It is best not to think more highly of ourself than we ought.  It is best to serve, rather than to be served.  It is best to choose the last place, and let another clamor and push to be first.  It is best to let God elevate us, rather than to seek to elevate ourself.  It is best, and grandest, to simply fall to the dirt and die that we may be born again...  Die to ourself,  and be born again into Christ Jesus (Yeshua Hamashiach), and His eternal Kingdom.  Then we shall bear much good fruit!  Amen.