WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.480 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama. 00:00:06.980 --> 00:00:09.540 Our passion is to experience and express grace. 00:00:10.080 --> 00:00:10.620 Join us. 00:00:11.980 --> 00:00:22.019 We've been singing tonight about our weakness, our need, crying out to our God from a place 00:00:22.019 --> 00:00:25.000 of humility and dependence upon Him. 00:00:25.000 --> 00:00:30.519 This is what I call realizing our dustness. 00:00:31.579 --> 00:00:41.760 When we come face to face with our creatureliness, with our limitations, with our own inadequacy, 00:00:42.960 --> 00:00:44.820 it happens in a lot of ways. 00:00:44.920 --> 00:00:49.079 It's happened to me several times just in the last few days. 00:00:50.079 --> 00:00:55.759 Yesterday morning, I was on the treadmill, and I've always believed that you can always 00:00:55.759 --> 00:00:58.159 just go a little bit faster, right? 00:00:58.640 --> 00:01:01.259 And just push yourself a little bit harder. 00:01:02.019 --> 00:01:05.560 And so every day on the treadmill, I think I'm going to go a little faster and a little 00:01:05.560 --> 00:01:07.459 farther than I did the day before. 00:01:07.459 --> 00:01:12.640 And yesterday morning, my lungs and my legs staged a protest. 00:01:13.159 --> 00:01:17.519 They argued with that point that I believe in so strongly. 00:01:17.519 --> 00:01:18.459 They said, stop! 00:01:19.060 --> 00:01:20.879 You can't go any further. 00:01:22.399 --> 00:01:24.619 And I felt my limitations. 00:01:26.340 --> 00:01:33.280 This weekend, I was leading a meeting, and I needed to redirect a conversation that had 00:01:33.280 --> 00:01:38.759 taken a turn I wasn't anticipating and hadn't planned for, and it was my job to lead the 00:01:38.759 --> 00:01:40.879 meeting, and I didn't know how to help. 00:01:41.979 --> 00:01:44.420 And I felt my inadequacy. 00:01:44.420 --> 00:01:51.859 Sunday, I got a call that the father of my childhood best friend was dying. 00:01:53.460 --> 00:02:00.379 He's one of those guys who was a professional athlete, someone you remember as a kid, admiring 00:02:00.379 --> 00:02:04.599 and looking up to and thinking he's strong and capable, you know? 00:02:04.640 --> 00:02:10.840 And you're a kid, those adults who can do whatever they want, and you really think they'll always 00:02:10.840 --> 00:02:11.439 be there. 00:02:11.439 --> 00:02:15.500 And Friday, I'll speak at his funeral. 00:02:17.120 --> 00:02:20.599 And I was feeling my own frailty. 00:02:22.920 --> 00:02:29.199 When have you come face to face with your dustness recently? 00:02:29.199 --> 00:02:35.859 Perhaps receiving a diagnosis that you have no control over? 00:02:37.939 --> 00:02:44.699 Perhaps getting older, feeling aches and pains where you didn't know you could feel aches 00:02:44.699 --> 00:02:45.259 and pains? 00:02:47.159 --> 00:02:51.859 Perhaps experiencing your weakness in fighting against sin? 00:02:51.860 --> 00:02:56.960 Perhaps getting older, feeling like a child, you didn't want to, but you clicked on it again. 00:02:58.200 --> 00:03:02.260 You said those hurtful words again. 00:03:02.820 --> 00:03:06.560 You looked and envied again. 00:03:07.160 --> 00:03:13.560 And you felt powerless to do what you knew was right and wanted so much to do. 00:03:13.560 --> 00:03:22.599 Regardless of our strengths and our plans and our attempts to control everything in our lives, 00:03:22.900 --> 00:03:26.500 we all face our dustness time and again, don't we? 00:03:27.420 --> 00:03:30.520 In this life, it's always before us. 00:03:31.060 --> 00:03:33.699 The Bible has a lot to say about this. 00:03:33.800 --> 00:03:41.759 I want to start by reading from Psalm 103 as we reflect just a few minutes tonight on the 00:03:41.759 --> 00:03:43.419 gospel according to dust. 00:03:44.500 --> 00:03:47.319 Psalm 103 at verse 13. 00:03:49.159 --> 00:03:57.079 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. 00:03:57.739 --> 00:03:59.359 For he knows our frame. 00:03:59.819 --> 00:04:02.199 He remembers that we are dust. 00:04:03.539 --> 00:04:05.979 As for man, his days are like grass. 00:04:06.199 --> 00:04:10.579 He flourishes like a flower of the field, for the wind passes over it and it is gone, 00:04:10.580 --> 00:04:12.540 and its place knows it no more. 00:04:13.440 --> 00:04:19.620 But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him 00:04:19.620 --> 00:04:23.319 and his righteousness to children's children. 00:04:26.040 --> 00:04:29.500 We'll come back in a couple minutes to Psalm 103. 00:04:29.500 --> 00:04:35.920 But for now, just notice that it says God knows our frame. 00:04:36.560 --> 00:04:39.339 You may be used to hearing that in a different version. 00:04:39.699 --> 00:04:41.420 He knows how we were formed. 00:04:42.579 --> 00:04:45.339 He remembers that we are dust. 00:04:46.800 --> 00:04:48.620 So it's pointing us back. 00:04:48.680 --> 00:04:52.060 We need to go back to the beginning of the story. 00:04:52.279 --> 00:04:58.540 God knows how we were formed, of course, because he is the mighty creator who formed us. 00:04:58.540 --> 00:04:59.540 God knows how we were born. 00:04:59.540 --> 00:05:02.800 Who formed us out of the dust of the ground. 00:05:03.300 --> 00:05:05.300 Genesis chapter 2. 00:05:06.000 --> 00:05:07.780 It's humble beginnings, right? 00:05:08.879 --> 00:05:10.980 Formed out of the dust of the ground. 00:05:11.080 --> 00:05:14.379 Just a part of the creation from the dirt. 00:05:14.600 --> 00:05:21.120 Not apparently special or inherently worthy at this point. 00:05:21.120 --> 00:05:26.079 But then God breathes his life. 00:05:27.500 --> 00:05:31.220 Physical, spiritual, relational. 00:05:31.660 --> 00:05:34.139 He breathes into Adam. 00:05:36.939 --> 00:05:38.899 And we're in his image. 00:05:39.319 --> 00:05:41.439 Mankind made in God's image. 00:05:41.720 --> 00:05:48.660 Man and woman set apart from the rest of creation to reflect his authority and his goodness and his dignity. 00:05:48.660 --> 00:05:52.780 The reconfigured dust was to be glorious, right? 00:05:54.060 --> 00:05:56.780 That's the beginning of the story on dust, isn't it? 00:05:56.840 --> 00:05:58.380 It's what God had in mind. 00:06:00.020 --> 00:06:02.520 But you know how the story goes, don't you? 00:06:04.440 --> 00:06:06.780 Our sin disrupts the story. 00:06:07.360 --> 00:06:09.060 Even just in the next chapter. 00:06:09.060 --> 00:06:15.480 And in the midst of the curse that God pronounces as a result of man's rebellion. 00:06:16.139 --> 00:06:19.139 Our dustness is connected to our sin. 00:06:20.220 --> 00:06:22.860 The very ground is cursed. 00:06:23.860 --> 00:06:25.420 Genesis 3.17 00:06:25.420 --> 00:06:27.300 Death enters. 00:06:28.399 --> 00:06:31.579 Physical and spiritual death now. 00:06:31.579 --> 00:06:37.519 God pronounces man will return to dust. 00:06:38.560 --> 00:06:42.879 To the now cursed ground that he came from. 00:06:43.019 --> 00:06:44.539 From dust you are. 00:06:44.879 --> 00:06:47.019 And to dust you shall return. 00:06:47.959 --> 00:06:48.500 Lowly. 00:06:49.240 --> 00:06:49.839 Hopeless. 00:06:51.159 --> 00:06:51.599 Dust. 00:06:51.600 --> 00:06:56.840 I played a lot of baseball growing up. 00:06:57.080 --> 00:07:05.660 And if you spend long summer days all day on a Saturday on a dusty little league field, 00:07:05.780 --> 00:07:08.240 you know for sure that the ground is cursed. 00:07:09.720 --> 00:07:17.439 Fields that are so dry and dusty that your lips begin to stick together. 00:07:17.660 --> 00:07:19.240 You can't even talk. 00:07:19.240 --> 00:07:21.120 It gets so dried out. 00:07:21.600 --> 00:07:22.720 They're parched. 00:07:23.100 --> 00:07:29.000 A little bit of wind makes you turn your eyes from the stinging dust that's blowing. 00:07:29.920 --> 00:07:33.920 When someone slides at your feet, the cloud of dust that flies up. 00:07:33.980 --> 00:07:36.720 No one can see anything for several seconds. 00:07:38.740 --> 00:07:42.420 The dust just sticks everywhere on every part of you. 00:07:42.460 --> 00:07:45.660 The whole field gets dry and torn up. 00:07:45.660 --> 00:07:48.640 And you feel like you need a bath between every inning. 00:07:49.580 --> 00:07:51.120 It's not a pretty sight. 00:07:51.600 --> 00:07:58.000 That's what dust begins to picture through the rest of the Old Testament. 00:07:58.000 --> 00:08:02.520 Almost every time it's referenced referring to the lowly. 00:08:03.080 --> 00:08:04.420 The downtrodden. 00:08:04.560 --> 00:08:05.460 The powerless. 00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:06.640 The unworthy. 00:08:06.639 --> 00:08:14.659 So when Job talks about his dustness, he writes this in chapter 30. 00:08:15.039 --> 00:08:17.479 Now my soul is poured out within me. 00:08:17.860 --> 00:08:20.339 Days of affliction have taken hold of me. 00:08:20.740 --> 00:08:25.519 The night racks my bones and the pain that gnaws me takes no rest. 00:08:26.099 --> 00:08:28.039 With great force my garment is disfigured. 00:08:28.039 --> 00:08:31.300 It binds me about like the collar of my tunic. 00:08:31.300 --> 00:08:33.740 God has cast me into the mire. 00:08:33.740 --> 00:08:39.500 And I have become like dust and ashes. 00:08:41.279 --> 00:08:42.580 What's it like? 00:08:42.639 --> 00:08:44.019 What does he say it's like? 00:08:44.100 --> 00:08:46.740 The most horrible things that he can imagine. 00:08:46.860 --> 00:08:47.940 The most painful. 00:08:48.139 --> 00:08:50.659 The agony that he's experiencing. 00:08:50.659 --> 00:08:51.799 All that suffering. 00:08:51.899 --> 00:08:55.220 He says it's like dust and ashes. 00:08:55.220 --> 00:09:00.740 It's always been part of our creatureliness. 00:09:01.160 --> 00:09:02.100 Our finitude. 00:09:03.180 --> 00:09:07.220 But now it's actually much worse through this part of the story. 00:09:07.660 --> 00:09:09.779 Dust is also highlighting our failure. 00:09:10.300 --> 00:09:11.500 Our inadequacy. 00:09:11.800 --> 00:09:13.000 Our disgrace. 00:09:13.519 --> 00:09:17.220 Isaiah connects dust with the results of our sinful rebellion. 00:09:17.940 --> 00:09:19.580 Chapter 5 verse 24. 00:09:19.580 --> 00:09:23.360 Therefore as the tongue of fire devours the stubble. 00:09:23.900 --> 00:09:26.500 And as dry grass sinks down in the flame. 00:09:26.780 --> 00:09:28.720 So their root will be as rottenness. 00:09:28.780 --> 00:09:30.620 And their blossom go up like dust. 00:09:31.000 --> 00:09:31.340 Why? 00:09:31.860 --> 00:09:35.040 For they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts. 00:09:35.340 --> 00:09:39.360 And have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. 00:09:40.820 --> 00:09:42.220 Because of our sin. 00:09:42.980 --> 00:09:44.780 We're like dust disappearing. 00:09:44.779 --> 00:09:49.799 We're pictured as this miserable little league field. 00:09:50.360 --> 00:09:51.079 Worthless. 00:09:51.620 --> 00:09:54.459 Because we've rejected our true purpose. 00:09:55.319 --> 00:09:58.860 Refused to follow God's glorious design for us. 00:09:58.980 --> 00:10:01.919 And ended up being just blown away by a light wind. 00:10:02.799 --> 00:10:04.299 There's nothing to us anymore. 00:10:06.379 --> 00:10:07.879 You and I have felt that. 00:10:08.319 --> 00:10:08.939 Haven't we? 00:10:10.860 --> 00:10:11.419 Yes. 00:10:11.639 --> 00:10:12.079 Weak. 00:10:13.039 --> 00:10:13.579 Limited. 00:10:13.580 --> 00:10:14.580 And finite. 00:10:14.580 --> 00:10:15.580 And frail. 00:10:17.020 --> 00:10:19.740 And also failing. 00:10:20.420 --> 00:10:21.480 Yet again. 00:10:22.879 --> 00:10:25.420 Inadequate for God's calling. 00:10:25.980 --> 00:10:28.200 Unworthy of His glory. 00:10:30.180 --> 00:10:31.560 And when you get that low. 00:10:31.980 --> 00:10:34.740 That face to face with your inadequacies. 00:10:35.240 --> 00:10:38.520 You often give up hope of ever being anything more. 00:10:38.640 --> 00:10:39.100 Don't you? 00:10:40.480 --> 00:10:41.300 Have you felt that? 00:10:41.299 --> 00:10:46.339 That predicament is what we must contemplate. 00:10:46.959 --> 00:10:49.759 Particularly on a day like Ash Wednesday. 00:10:50.179 --> 00:10:53.059 But it's something we must consider regularly. 00:10:54.000 --> 00:10:57.240 Because the big question at this point in the story is. 00:10:57.359 --> 00:10:58.819 How will God respond? 00:10:58.820 --> 00:10:59.140 How will God respond? 00:10:59.820 --> 00:11:03.900 This is where we're stuck with these feelings. 00:11:04.220 --> 00:11:05.860 How's God going to respond? 00:11:05.980 --> 00:11:09.000 What's His heart toward disgusting dust? 00:11:09.000 --> 00:11:14.740 Everything about us calls for Him to reject us. 00:11:15.559 --> 00:11:17.679 Suggests He should be repulsed. 00:11:17.940 --> 00:11:23.700 That pushes Him to feel disdain for such weak, pathetic wretches. 00:11:23.700 --> 00:11:29.160 You've got to feel the weight of that at this point in the story. 00:11:29.240 --> 00:11:31.700 Especially for those of you who know the end of the story already. 00:11:32.100 --> 00:11:33.020 Don't read ahead. 00:11:33.700 --> 00:11:35.259 I know you know how He feels. 00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:39.580 But feel the weight of how we deserve for Him to feel. 00:11:39.580 --> 00:11:43.300 You've felt the emotions before. 00:11:43.379 --> 00:11:44.520 When He felt distant. 00:11:45.700 --> 00:11:48.120 When you didn't feel His love. 00:11:48.220 --> 00:11:50.420 When you felt at the end of yourself. 00:11:50.780 --> 00:11:53.120 And worthless and without hope. 00:11:54.820 --> 00:12:01.360 How does the mighty Creator God feel about pathetic dust? 00:12:01.360 --> 00:12:06.139 And we make it back to Psalm 103. 00:12:07.320 --> 00:12:08.759 Let me read it one more time. 00:12:11.100 --> 00:12:13.580 As a father shows compassion to his children. 00:12:14.360 --> 00:12:17.960 So the Lord shows compassion to those who fear Him. 00:12:19.240 --> 00:12:19.500 Why? 00:12:19.600 --> 00:12:21.300 Where does the compassion come from? 00:12:21.659 --> 00:12:24.379 For He knows how our frame. 00:12:25.139 --> 00:12:27.800 He remembers that we are dust. 00:12:27.799 --> 00:12:31.439 As for man, his days are like grass. 00:12:31.599 --> 00:12:33.659 He flourishes like a flower of the field. 00:12:33.719 --> 00:12:34.879 For the wind passes over it. 00:12:34.919 --> 00:12:35.519 And it's gone. 00:12:35.599 --> 00:12:37.139 And its place knows it no more. 00:12:39.159 --> 00:12:40.299 Except who does? 00:12:41.259 --> 00:12:42.579 No one remembers you. 00:12:42.899 --> 00:12:45.199 But the steadfast love of the Lord. 00:12:45.439 --> 00:12:47.859 Is from everlasting to everlasting. 00:12:48.339 --> 00:12:50.120 On those who fear Him. 00:12:50.559 --> 00:12:54.159 And His righteousness to children's children. 00:12:55.439 --> 00:12:57.659 Far beyond when we're gone. 00:12:57.799 --> 00:12:58.679 And forgotten. 00:12:58.679 --> 00:13:00.120 Is His love. 00:13:00.279 --> 00:13:01.879 Do you see what this passage is saying? 00:13:02.159 --> 00:13:03.219 It's His compassion. 00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:05.359 And His love. 00:13:05.799 --> 00:13:06.699 And what's in between? 00:13:07.459 --> 00:13:09.519 Our dustness. 00:13:09.939 --> 00:13:11.500 Our weakness. 00:13:12.399 --> 00:13:14.500 The fact that we disappear quickly. 00:13:15.159 --> 00:13:16.379 And yet His compassion. 00:13:16.719 --> 00:13:17.719 And His love. 00:13:17.939 --> 00:13:20.139 Are driven towards us. 00:13:20.259 --> 00:13:21.179 By that. 00:13:22.099 --> 00:13:23.819 His compassion and love come. 00:13:24.019 --> 00:13:25.479 Not in spite of. 00:13:25.480 --> 00:13:27.860 But even because of. 00:13:27.860 --> 00:13:29.720 Our dustness. 00:13:30.960 --> 00:13:32.120 That's the verdict. 00:13:33.120 --> 00:13:35.259 God loves dust. 00:13:36.100 --> 00:13:37.399 That's good news. 00:13:37.860 --> 00:13:40.800 Look at the heart of your God towards you. 00:13:40.960 --> 00:13:42.399 When you're face down. 00:13:42.560 --> 00:13:43.899 At the end of your rope. 00:13:44.080 --> 00:13:45.460 With no hope left. 00:13:45.800 --> 00:13:47.340 Blown off the stage. 00:13:47.500 --> 00:13:49.840 And forgotten by everyone else. 00:13:49.840 --> 00:13:51.740 The place you live. 00:13:51.800 --> 00:13:53.460 Doesn't even remember you anymore. 00:13:53.759 --> 00:13:56.720 But His heart is tender compassion. 00:13:58.080 --> 00:13:59.720 Steadfast love. 00:13:59.720 --> 00:14:02.460 From everlasting to everlasting. 00:14:03.220 --> 00:14:04.680 Never running out. 00:14:04.679 --> 00:14:07.919 John Calvin says it this way. 00:14:09.519 --> 00:14:10.899 Speaking of these verses. 00:14:11.099 --> 00:14:11.439 He says. 00:14:11.439 --> 00:14:12.299 David here. 00:14:13.299 --> 00:14:13.879 Annihilates. 00:14:14.199 --> 00:14:14.839 All the worth. 00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:17.199 Which men would arrogate to themselves. 00:14:18.099 --> 00:14:21.039 And asserts that it is the consideration of our misery. 00:14:21.339 --> 00:14:22.039 And that alone. 00:14:22.279 --> 00:14:24.939 Which moves God to exercise patience. 00:14:25.419 --> 00:14:26.159 Towards us. 00:14:27.359 --> 00:14:27.839 This again. 00:14:27.919 --> 00:14:29.379 We ought carefully to mark. 00:14:30.199 --> 00:14:33.659 Not only for the purpose of subduing the pride of our flesh. 00:14:33.659 --> 00:14:38.539 But also that a sense of our unworthiness. 00:14:38.839 --> 00:14:43.759 May not prevent us from trusting in God. 00:14:44.699 --> 00:14:48.399 The more wretched and despicable our condition is. 00:14:48.620 --> 00:14:51.919 The more inclined is God to show mercy. 00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:55.559 For remembrance that we are clay and dust. 00:14:55.759 --> 00:14:59.579 Is enough to incite Him to do us good. 00:15:00.759 --> 00:15:01.120 Amen. 00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:05.679 Remembrance that we are clay and dust. 00:15:05.899 --> 00:15:08.000 Is enough to incite God. 00:15:08.200 --> 00:15:10.220 To drive His heart of compassion. 00:15:10.560 --> 00:15:12.340 To do us good. 00:15:13.139 --> 00:15:16.039 I'd call that the gospel according to dust. 00:15:17.399 --> 00:15:18.080 Yes. 00:15:18.299 --> 00:15:19.879 From dust we are. 00:15:20.139 --> 00:15:22.419 And to dust we shall return. 00:15:23.080 --> 00:15:26.340 But God says we are beloved dust. 00:15:26.340 --> 00:15:28.780 He loves us so much. 00:15:28.780 --> 00:15:31.680 That He sends His Son to rescue us. 00:15:31.680 --> 00:15:35.240 To die the death we know so well we deserve to die. 00:15:35.320 --> 00:15:36.660 And we feel the weight of it. 00:15:37.379 --> 00:15:40.820 To live the glorious life we were created to live. 00:15:40.899 --> 00:15:44.080 But we've never really gotten a glimpse of what it could look like. 00:15:44.080 --> 00:15:50.420 He never stops loving us from everlasting to everlasting. 00:15:50.920 --> 00:15:57.100 And His righteousness He gives one generation to another after you're gone. 00:15:57.420 --> 00:16:01.700 Making us right one generation after another. 00:16:01.960 --> 00:16:02.540 Amazing. 00:16:02.539 --> 00:16:07.099 See this may be the most astonishing part of the whole story. 00:16:07.099 --> 00:16:10.179 The story of the gospel according to dust. 00:16:10.779 --> 00:16:13.879 You remember that glorious intent that God had. 00:16:14.299 --> 00:16:16.879 When He formed us out of the dust of the earth. 00:16:16.959 --> 00:16:18.159 What He created us for. 00:16:18.839 --> 00:16:21.039 That's still His plan for us. 00:16:21.039 --> 00:16:24.039 He's making us right again. 00:16:27.379 --> 00:16:37.139 After many long, hot, dry Saturdays on those dusty little league fields. 00:16:38.079 --> 00:16:40.120 I finally made it to the state tournament. 00:16:40.939 --> 00:16:42.860 At a minor league baseball stadium. 00:16:43.799 --> 00:16:48.519 And I remember walking up the dugout steps of this amazing stadium. 00:16:48.519 --> 00:16:53.179 And just marveling at the beautiful field. 00:16:53.919 --> 00:16:57.240 The grounds crew had just finished up polishing it up. 00:16:57.519 --> 00:16:59.019 And it looked magnificent. 00:16:59.539 --> 00:17:01.759 They took that same dust. 00:17:01.939 --> 00:17:03.259 And with the right care. 00:17:03.939 --> 00:17:05.579 And the proper amount of water. 00:17:05.779 --> 00:17:08.460 It worked just right. 00:17:09.819 --> 00:17:13.900 For my money, if you love baseball or landscaping. 00:17:13.900 --> 00:17:21.000 You can't do much better than the beauty of perfectly manicured green grass. 00:17:21.100 --> 00:17:24.360 Surrounding perfectly watered brown dirt. 00:17:24.900 --> 00:17:25.960 It's tough to beat. 00:17:26.660 --> 00:17:28.200 It's a beautiful thing. 00:17:28.560 --> 00:17:32.840 That's dust looking and functioning the way it is supposed to be. 00:17:32.940 --> 00:17:33.140 Right? 00:17:35.360 --> 00:17:37.820 This is where God is going with the story. 00:17:38.200 --> 00:17:38.360 Y'all. 00:17:38.620 --> 00:17:41.040 This is what He's been up to since creation. 00:17:41.140 --> 00:17:42.640 And what He's still doing. 00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:46.100 Paul writes in a couple of places about the first man. 00:17:46.500 --> 00:17:46.840 Adam. 00:17:47.500 --> 00:17:52.800 Who failed and brought disgrace and sin to all of us connected to Him. 00:17:53.820 --> 00:17:55.740 And then he speaks of the next man. 00:17:56.680 --> 00:17:57.040 Jesus. 00:17:57.860 --> 00:17:59.420 The second Adam. 00:17:59.640 --> 00:18:04.880 Who succeeded and brought honor and life to all of us connected to Him. 00:18:06.540 --> 00:18:09.880 In 1 Corinthians 15 he explains it this way. 00:18:09.880 --> 00:18:12.300 The first man, Adam. 00:18:13.100 --> 00:18:14.220 Was from the earth. 00:18:14.340 --> 00:18:15.240 A man of dust. 00:18:16.340 --> 00:18:17.840 The second man, Jesus. 00:18:18.060 --> 00:18:19.200 Is from heaven. 00:18:20.380 --> 00:18:21.920 As was the man of dust. 00:18:22.060 --> 00:18:24.400 So also are those who are of the dust. 00:18:25.060 --> 00:18:26.840 And as is the man of heaven. 00:18:27.220 --> 00:18:29.940 So also are those who are of heaven. 00:18:29.940 --> 00:18:30.980 So listen. 00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:35.440 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust. 00:18:35.920 --> 00:18:41.240 We shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. 00:18:42.340 --> 00:18:42.880 Listen. 00:18:43.019 --> 00:18:43.980 We are limited. 00:18:44.820 --> 00:18:46.440 And we have failed. 00:18:46.900 --> 00:18:50.559 We have borne the image of the man of dust quite well. 00:18:50.620 --> 00:18:51.120 Haven't we? 00:18:51.119 --> 00:18:54.219 We have walked in Adam's footsteps. 00:18:54.619 --> 00:18:56.419 We have felt his pain. 00:18:56.699 --> 00:18:59.619 And we are wanting to take a good long look at that tonight. 00:19:00.479 --> 00:19:01.719 And through this season. 00:19:02.500 --> 00:19:04.539 And see that reality about ourselves. 00:19:04.539 --> 00:19:07.480 But the hope in Christ. 00:19:07.920 --> 00:19:11.879 Is that we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. 00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:15.720 The glorious image we were designed to reflect. 00:19:15.899 --> 00:19:17.399 We will be restored to. 00:19:17.559 --> 00:19:20.639 As a beautiful part of God's glorious creation. 00:19:21.059 --> 00:19:23.759 That He makes back the way He always intended. 00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:26.519 So Christian. 00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:27.379 You can admit. 00:19:27.960 --> 00:19:28.759 Your sin. 00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:31.420 And all its horrible effects. 00:19:32.079 --> 00:19:34.460 As you begin this Easter season. 00:19:35.240 --> 00:19:37.279 You can stare your weakness. 00:19:38.279 --> 00:19:39.779 Your failings. 00:19:40.359 --> 00:19:41.440 Your grief. 00:19:42.440 --> 00:19:44.259 Even death itself. 00:19:44.920 --> 00:19:46.019 In the face. 00:19:46.420 --> 00:19:46.799 Tonight. 00:19:47.700 --> 00:19:51.279 You can smear dust and the ashes of death. 00:19:51.279 --> 00:19:53.279 On your body tonight. 00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:55.099 And yet rejoice. 00:19:55.660 --> 00:19:57.960 Because it's not the end of your story. 00:19:58.899 --> 00:20:01.539 It's not all that's true about you. 00:20:02.940 --> 00:20:08.019 You can rejoice because God the Father loves dust. 00:20:09.119 --> 00:20:16.480 You can rejoice because Jesus the Son stared death in the face for you. 00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:19.500 So that you would be remade. 00:20:20.019 --> 00:20:21.640 In His glorious. 00:20:22.400 --> 00:20:22.960 Perfect. 00:20:24.099 --> 00:20:24.559 Image. 00:20:25.299 --> 00:20:26.539 And that's good news. 00:20:27.059 --> 00:20:27.620 Let's pray. 00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:34.200 Father we thank you. 00:20:36.779 --> 00:20:39.559 That though we are weak yet you are strong. 00:20:39.559 --> 00:20:45.659 That from the time you created us. 00:20:46.379 --> 00:20:49.700 You have also designed to recreate us. 00:20:50.500 --> 00:20:52.159 In your image. 00:20:53.159 --> 00:20:55.220 To bear your likeness. 00:20:55.559 --> 00:20:57.839 To reflect your glory. 00:20:57.839 --> 00:21:02.159 And so Father as we begin now. 00:21:03.500 --> 00:21:05.139 To see our frailty. 00:21:06.099 --> 00:21:07.959 To acknowledge our sin. 00:21:08.899 --> 00:21:13.220 Would it be your grace that allows us to look at it straight on. 00:21:13.779 --> 00:21:16.480 Would it be the hope of life everlasting. 00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:17.619 That allows us. 00:21:18.619 --> 00:21:20.439 Even to stare at death tonight. 00:21:20.440 --> 00:21:25.500 And tell it it holds nothing over us. 00:21:26.519 --> 00:21:27.700 Because of our Savior. 00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:30.340 It's in His name that we pray. 00:21:31.539 --> 00:21:31.840 Amen. 00:21:36.500 --> 00:21:40.259 For more information visit us online at southwood.org