“As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven.”
1 corinthians 15:48
All of this talk of the shortness of life may sound a bit miserable. But the whole point of our life in this world is to prepare us for the world to come. And if we live in the illusion that we will always be here, we will miss the point of this life.
We are of the dust, and if this short and uncertain life was all we had, we would be without hope, so thank God for the man from heaven (15:47). Paul is talking about the Lord Jesus Christ, and he says that He is “a life-giving spirit” (15:45).
The experience of those who share the life of Adam is short and uncertain. The experience of those who share the life of Christ will be glorious. Notice how Paul brings these two together: “As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven” (15:48).
In other words, two things are true of you as a Christian believer, and they are true at the same time: You are “of the dust” and you are “of heaven.” What a strange mixture you are. How strange your experience will be.
You are of the dust, so decay, decline, insecurity, fragility, and all that goes with this short and uncertain life you share with Adam are at work in you. You are of heaven, so resurrection, hope, peace, joy, and all that goes with the eternal life you share with Christ are also at work in you.
How can the promise that you are of heaven help sustain you in the uncertainties of life?
