Is It Really Worth it?
The mention of Tyre and Sidon several times by our Lord Jesus raised a quest to search up and read about Tyre. The land of the great purple dye, whose ruins today are just wide enough to dock boats on the Mediterranean. It reminded me of one hotel we stayed in Rome during the family visit and prayer walk in Italy. It was a flat in one of the magnificent buildings in the Metropolitan city. The big pillars are architectural masterpiece. We met only a couple on the lift during our stay. Our voices echoed, showing how empty the building was. Surely it wouldn’t have been for the common man at its time. The proprietor of the hotel was one of those the government gave it to at no cost, to avoid further dilapidation. The builders would never believe that the building will be used by a common man down the road in the 21st century. What happened to the Roman Empire?
Further, into my reading on archaeological work in biblical ancient cities, I read the fame of the kings and kingdoms. It emphasized the reality of the vanity of this life. The kings were powerful, drank with pure gold cups, adorned in emeralds, rubies, pearls, and precious ornaments. They built fortified cities and exercised power and dominion over the earth. They were great men indeed. The likes of Shushan the palace, palace of Nebuchadnezzar, Ahab, Solomon, kings of Assyria, Pharaoh, and a host of them. Around the world are ruins of ancient cities, with a lot of them buried underground. Who would have told those Kings that people of today will dig the ground to find a clue of what they looked like?
A long list of achievements has been read out at the funerals of great men. They are gone forever. The toiling and hard work to have a better life ends up in the grave. There is no difference between the poor and the rich, “The Great” and “The Nobody”. All close their eyes to death and are gone forever. No wonder Jesus asked us what it will profit us to gain the world and lose our souls. There is absolutely no gain. The cars, houses, jets, skyscrapers, gold, and silver, titles and pride that heats up the few years here on earth are dragged to the grave. The hustle for life: cheating, avarice, murder, envy, debate, drugs, alcoholism, adultery/fornication of any type is a waste of life. Lying and doing fast business to enrich oneself is a waste of life. The climbing on others to get by is a waste of time. The amassing of wealth and power is a waste of time. The deception and hate are a waste of time.
Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
If you don’t have access to the Internet or library to read, look around you. Where are the men that made history? As for the castles we go to for sightseeing, where are their original occupants? The poor man that could not afford a grave of his own, where is he? All vanity. All the push and shove of life is greeted by a dark death at the end. Life vanishes away. All the stress, worries, and anxiety of life will never add a day to man’s expiry date.
The question is ‘Is it really worth it?’
Matthew 4: 8-9 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
The Kingdom filled with wicked Kings and Queens who could cut off John the Baptist’s head for saying the truth. The Kingdom where mean men tax out the life of people. The Kingdom of cruelty and wicked soldiers killing people at will. The kingdom where the King owns half of the estate. The Kingdom where the poor die in disease and hunger. The Kingdom of Scribes and Pharisees and hypocrites. The Kingdom of Idolaters. The Kingdom of wars and shedding of blood. The Kingdom with no freedom. The Kingdom of depression and mental breakdown. The Kingdom of toil and suffering. The Kingdom where wrong is right. The Kingdom of racism and tribalism. The Kingdom of oppression. The kingdom that will be covered in dust or will be flooded by the ocean over time. The Kingdom that will be rolled away as a scroll on the last day. Is it worth it?
Open the eyes of our hearts, Lord, to understand and know wisdom. Help us see the worth of this life and seek you, The Maker of Heaven and Earth. Help us accept the only life, Jesus The Messiah, and make our life count in righteousness. Help us to number our days and allow you to show us eternal life. Thank you, Father, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
