For my full time career I appraise real estate. In the course of my work, when discussing value with clients, I often use the phrase: “The value is in the dirt.” What I mean by that is the majority of the value is the value of the lot or acreage and not in the building(s). Now my purpose is not a Real Estate Appraising 101 class here, but I was pondering this the other night. We have a real connection to land or dirt, don’t we? According to Genesis 2:7 God formed man from it, I mean dust is just powdered dirt more or less. Psalm 139 says that, “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” We carry His image, and we are fearfully and wonderfully made, but we are still—at our very basest element—dirt. We were created from it, and upon our death this sinful human body will return to it – dirt!
My purpose is not to depress you, but to get you to think. Sometimes I think we are too focused on the dirt.
But—you may be saying—didn’t you just say that dirt is a big part of who we are? So now you’re not only depressed but confused as well. Let me attempt to explain my premise.
What got me started thinking about this is all the fear, panic, worry, anxiety in folks about COVID-19. It takes up the whole of the news, along with almost all conversation. It has dominated our lives in general and will continue to be the focus for, at a minimum, the near future. I get it; I really do! This virus has imposed itself upon us, forcing us to ponder on unsettling things, and live our lives in a way we certainly aren’t used to. However, we are definitely way too focused on the dirt; the dirt of this earth; the dirt of this world; the dirt of our ordinary lives! Has that been you? Do you remember in the Old Testament when folks would repent, “in dust and ashes?” Literally covering and bathing themselves in dirt? If that has been you, Believer, I want to encourage you to STAND UP, SHAKE THAT OLD DUST OFF YOUR HEAD; BE THE LIGHT THAT THE LORD WANTS YOU TO BE! This is the Lord’s time to use you as a Light to bring folks to Jesus Christ; by your example, actions, faith, and love! Your body may be dirt, but your spirit is HIS! Are you allowing yourself to be bathed in dirt, to let that dirt hide your light and drag your spirit down into despair? Instead of letting your light shine to encourage others to shake their own dirt baths off?
I remember my dear friend who was dying in the hospital. The Lord saved and converted him at Pearl Harbor. He loved Revelation 21, and I was able to read it to him the day before he died in that hospital.
“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
Doesn’t that just thrill your soul? Now that is worth focusing on – don’t you think? As the hymn goes (You knew I’d get one in – right?)
“Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”
O soul are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There's light for a look at the Savior
And life more abundant and free
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace
Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there
Over us sin no more hath dominion
For more than conquerors we are
And turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace
His word shall not fail you, He promised
Believe Him and all will be well
Then go to a world that is dying
His perfect salvation to tell
And turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace
My dear Believer, focus on our Lord Jesus Christ! Reflect Him as you reach out to others who are focused on the dirt!
-Scott M Aussprung