“By the sweat of your face You will eat bread, Till you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return.”
Genesis 3:19, LSB
God created a perfect Creation. Adam and Eve had no idea the cost of rebellion, however, we do. The reality is that when we seek to do things our own way, we find nothing but struggle. It is tempting, however, to seek to get things done without first seeking God’s guidance. As we enter the season of Lent every year, we begin on Ash Wednesday with our heads marked with ash and the words, “From dust you came, to dust you shall return.” This is meant to be a regular reminder that we paid a high cost because of one man’s rebellion, Adam. However, we have a greater promise in our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. He also reminds us of this fact because He revealed that because of Adam, we would need the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The true cost of rebellion against God is death. Outside of Christ, it would mean our eternal death, but because of the sacrifice of God on the Cross, our debt has been fully paid. Though our mortal bodies will return to dust, we live in the promise that we will be raised and given a new immortal body to live with Him in eternity. It is because of His sacrifice that we are made right with God and in our living we will be moved into a new Creation with our Lord forever.
Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.