Dust In The Wind

        Do you know the song "Dust in the Wind" by Kansas?
I heard it on the way to work the other day.  I have always liked this soulful tune.  It has been around a long time and listening as a teenager I never thought about the deeper meaning of the words.  I guess one reason is, like many teens,  I had the feeling I would live forever.    
      This time as I listened it was almost like hearing it for the first time.  It suddenly struck me how biblical the words are.  I've never done this before and I know it will add to the length of this post, but for a point of reference, here are the lyrics (with credits posted at the end)

Dust in the Wind Kansas

I close my eyes, only for a moment
And the moment's gone
All my dreams pass before my eyes, a curiosity

Dust in the wind
All they are is dust in the wind

Same old song, just a drop of water
In an endless sea
All we do crumbles to the ground
Though we refuse to see

Dust in the wind
All we are is dust in the wind

Oh, ho, ho

Now, don't hang on, nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky
It slips away, and all your money won't another minute buy

Dust in the wind -- All we are is dust in the wind [2]

Dust in the wind --Everything is dust in the wind [x2]
The wind

Songwriters: Kerry Livgren / Kerry A Livgren
Dust in the Wind lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

      Perhaps reading the words help us see how similar these thoughts are to scripture.   God man made from dust.  From an eternal standpoint our physical lives are very short.  Time moves swiftly and moments we would love to hold on to -- those special times we wish would last forever -- leave us way too quickly.  

     I once heard my Dad compare years to weeks.  The older I become the more I understand these sentiments.  As in the song, we close our eyes and the moment is gone.  It seems a little sad, I know.  But we must remember our Heavenly Father knows this all too well.  

      "As a father shows compassion to his children, 

so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear Him,

for He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.

As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field;  for the wind passes over it and it is gone, and its place knows it no more but the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him and His righteousness to children's children,"  (Psalm 103: 13-17 ESV).  

      This beautiful passage gives us comfort as we realize how much our Father loves and cares for us.  He longs to be with those who fear (reverence) Him.  God has compassion for us -- so much so that He gave His only Son for us.  

      We must remember we are eternal beings with an earthly body.  Our time on earth will not last forever; in that sense we really are dust in the wind.  Yet our souls will live on.  If we follow the path of righteousness by loving and obeying our Savior our eternal home will be heaven.  Then we will be able to hold onto our happy moments.   Our joy will be everlasting!! 

      The second verse of the song says we are "just a drop of water in an endless sea."  Yes sometimes we all feel this way -- small and inconspicuous.  This is when we must remember the words of Christ from Luke 12:6-7 -- "Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?  And not one of them is forgotten before God.  Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered.   Fear not; for you are of more value than many sparrows."

      On the other hand, sometimes we feel self-important and fail to see "all we do crumbles to the ground."  The truth is nothing we build or do is permanent.  Remember the tower of Babel from Genesis 11?  We should take a lesson from that story.  

     Becoming too proud of our accomplishments - failing to give God the glory for what we do often leads to disaster.  Our lights are supposed to shine for Him -- not for ourselves.  Remember "unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain." (Psalm 127:1)  

      Finally, the third verse of this song becomes a reminder of God's greatness.  "Nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky.  All your money won't another minute buy."   The rich farmer who planned to tear down barns and build bigger ones certainly learned the truth of those words.  His soul was required of him that very night!!  We must keep in mind "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof.." (Psalm 24:1a)

      Honestly,  even the earth and sky won't last forever.  One day this world will end.  God's Word tells us it is so.  The good news is if we are His -- He will know us and claim us for His own.   

      So the song "Dust in the Wind" does not make me sad.  Yes, it is a reminder we are here only for a short time and yes, we are weak and frail and it's true money won't buy time.  But the song also reminds me of God's greatness and goodness.  How wonderful that He cares so much about us!  How awesome it is that we matter to Christ!  

      Yes, the world will one day end.  The best news though -- the very best news is if we love Him enough to obey Him -- "but according to His promise we are waiting for new heavens and new earth in which righteousness dwells"  (2 Peter 3:13).

Christ above all things, 

Robin Whitley