19th September 2020

Our Dear Brethren,

I hurried from room to room as quietly as I could. It was early enough that everyone else in the house was sleeping and my footsteps could be heard all throughout the house unless I was careful to step lightly. I'm not that loud of a person generally, but I'm not that small either. Thankfully I was wearing soft-soled shoes and I would soon be leaving for work. Before walking downstairs and out the door I took one last look at myself in the mirror. I couldn't quite get my hair to stay in place, but that was beside the point. Who was this tired looking man staring back at me?

I continue to have moments like that one. Moments when I realize my own humanity, my own frailty, the fact that this fleshly body of mine will continue to deteriorate as I grow older. Life continues on this way for each one of us. Just like the first man who God breathed the breath of life into, we are made of dust, which is not meant to last forever. It is true that our bodies will continue along this path of growing older and breaking down. Some understand this better than others, having experienced more of life than others. We don't look forward to this aspect of aging. Thankfully God has plans for us that include a change for the better.

"The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man" (1 Corinthians 15:46-49).

This change will come when the trumpet sounds, when "the second Man" returns from heaven. It is at that time when death, for us, will no longer be able to touch us. We will no longer have bodies that grow older, but bodies that will last forever! This Feast of Trumpets reminds us of that day when our Lord will return to be with us and His kingdom on earth will begin to grow. Have a wonderful and fulfilling Feast of Trumpets!

Our love is with you,

Lewis VanAusdle

Pastor, United Church of God

NYC, NJ, CT, Malawi, Zimbabwe