Egypt #3 - Eternity in our Hearts
By Brady Clark
First Presbyterian Church, Amarillo, TX
Today was a little bit of a “recovery day” after nonstop travel from the states and visiting churches in and around Cairo. We took the day to go and experience the rich and ancient history of this amazing country by visiting the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Egyptian Museum of Cairo. To see these incredible monoliths and antiquities firsthand was truly an unforgettable experience. One of the things that I was struck by was the ancient Egyptians commitment to the afterlife and their dedication to ensuring that they would be taken care of after they passed from this world. The tombs, the statues, the structures, and even the monuments were all built to withstand the test of time and to weather the storms of eternity and, although they surely won’t last forever, they have stood for thousands of years. I could not help but be impressed by their dedication to leaving a lasting legacy. To these people, the afterlife was paramount to the here and now. How similar we sometimes are.
As Christians, we strive to live our lives with eternity in our hearts. We seek to build a heavenly kingdom constructed of living stones with Christ as the cornerstone. Although we do not use precious stones, granite, gold, or marble, we do use the most valuable resource there is…the love of God. As we build these living monuments through the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, we can be assured that we are creating eternal legacies that shall never crumble and fall. The church is creating a living temple that transforms the lives of all who enter in and, unlike those great Egyptian rulers, we do this not just for ourselves but for all the world. How beautiful it is to know that we are able to partake in such a great work with our brothers and sisters here in Egypt and around the world.
Grace & Peace
Brady Clark