Emphasis Preaching Journal

In the service of death and resurrection there comes the solemn moment when we are struck by the words, "earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust." When it comes to the end of all our labor and efforts, what remains but dust and ashes? Whatever we have acquired, whatever we possess, whatever honors or dishonors from human sources, in the end we are dust. In one of the Peanuts comics, Pigpen, the boy who is always surrounded by a cloud of dust, makes the point that he should be respected because some of the dirt on him might have been walked on by some of the great figures of world history, so he was, in a sense, a connecting link with the past. This is certainly a new way to contextualize bath avoidance, but also a good theological insight.

"Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust." Dust remains. This is a way to contextualize the many paradoxes in Paul's words of encouragement to the Corin-thians. Many of our efforts ultimately result in dust. What can we do that will last?
-- Olson