Return to the dust

by David Long

After Adam had sinned God said, "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return" (Gen. 3:19). Sobering words, read them carefully. On a physical level this is true of us all. Now there was a new reality for Adam and for us. As bad as we hate to think about it, we will die (Heb. 9:27). The good news is God gave hope (Gen. 3:16). Not the hope of escaping physical death but spiritual death. Yes, we will return to the dust, can't get out of that but we can get out of going to hell. I do have a choice in that matter (Matt. 7:13-14).