In the budding of a greening spring, bringing life and color to these naked woods, a lot of decay happens. We counted five dead deer on the way to church. Vultures are having a feast.
Sure, death scares me somewhat. But it is the curse of decay that I find most terrifying. Mine in particular.
And as the years mount, as the phrase “old as dirt,” loses its humor, decay presents itself. I see it in the littlest of ways, another wrinkle, that “ouch” when I get up from a chair, and my “oh, what was his name,” sort of forgetfulness.
But I see it most in bigger foretastes of things beyond the next curve, losses that leave me with holes inside my being, like living Swiss cheese. I feel it in every blind corner ahead.
Humanity’s rot began in a lush garden of Eden, where death did not exist, and where in the cool of the evening God walked with man.
In the beginning, God created a world from nothing. But, from His earth He formed Adam. God breathed life and spirit into him.
“The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven.” (1 Corinthians 15:47 NKJV)
Sin brought decay into God’s perfect creation. Adam’s disobedience to God’s command birthed every soul’s deepest need.
“…for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:17 NKJV)
My husband and I lost a dear friend on the day we celebrated Good Friday. He was someone who encouraged and held us up during dark days. He partnered with us in overseas ministry, through prayer, and in generosity. He patiently listened and demonstrated Christlike wisdom.
As happens when someone we love dies, our thoughts go to the sorrow of decay, and we see it everywhere. We smear creams, take pills, paint our houses, pull our weeds, fix our cars, all of it because if things go untended they result in decay. Like road-kill.
We have just celebrated during the Easter season, Jesus’ pain, anguish and death on the cross. But, unlike our eventual return to dust, He did not face sin’s decay. His body rose from the dead. People saw Him, touched Him, and knelt at His feet. He breathed, talked, ate, and grilled fish on the shore.
Jesus conquered death.
For 40 more days after His resurrection, He walked again on this earth, teaching, strengthening His disciples, proclaiming in each movement His deity. He offered salvation to all who believe.
“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26 NKJV)
And He proved it. His sinless humanity and His Divinity could not be held down by the dirt of Adam’s curse.
Eternal life bought with the blood of Christ, changes everything. Now and forever.
“For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:21-22 NKJV)
We worship a Risen Savior who did not return to dust. We rejoice in His victory which overcame sin’s punishment. We celebrate His resurrection for it promises ours. Because, He picked us up out of the dust. He exchanged the filth of our souls for His forgiveness, washed us, and clothed us in His righteousness.
The first Adam, made from dust in God’s image has been redeemed through the second Adam who bore the perfect image of God, the exact imprint of His glory. (Hebrews 1:3 NKJV)
While all around us decay happens.
Peter quoted a prophecy given hundreds of years earlier from King David.
“Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.” (Acts 2:27 NKJV and Psalm 16:10).
It points ahead to a greater King than David, The Messiah. King David’s body eventually returned to dust. King Jesus lives today.
As awareness shifts to our own waning through the decline of a body, a moaning creation, and by a grave which marks a once vibrant life, God’s never fading imprint remains. It shines through the testimony of His followers.
And on the curvy roads of Virginia, with vultures circling a dead path of wildlife, I think of my friend, his wife, children, and grandchildren.
Dust to dust. Ashes to ashes.
It strikes me how these dark images in reality point to something, oh-so-wonderful and unspeakably bright. Even though I can’t quite grasp it yet, my friend now experiences with joy the face-to-face presence of our Risen Savior.
And although decay meets our bodies, victory meets our souls.
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