Death is very sobering thought for those who live in relative comfort and stability. My experiences with death have a strong influence on how I live. Grieving can change our lives and the lives of others around us. The death of anyone around the world gives insight into how they lived, hence, the mausoleums, grand tombstones and grave yards. The statements of faith and testimonies given at ones funeral give insights into the soul that has transitioned. The ancient world has given great records of their lifestyles by what tombs they have left behind. Watching or reading archaeologist accounts of history show that death was shared in every culture and faith. The monuments of antiquity are being found all over the world. The memorials give stories and insights to what it is to be human in each era and culture. The evidence of man’s unique position in nature are to overwhelming to deny. The intelligence and ingenuity humanity shares today is also proof of all humans being made in the image of God. The most unique artifact and art forms that are celebrated in Christendom center around the cross. The belief of life after death and Godly living center around a simple artifact; the cross. The cross has stood as the most universal sign on Christendom for 2 thousand years.
The belief of life beyond the grave are shared around the world in the artifacts and structures being discovered around the world. Those who have left a record for us to study though these structures and preserved writings deserve our careful observation. We can and should learn from history. The study of history always can cause us to reexamine how we live and what is important to us now. The trash pits and the ornate tombs and palaces studied by archaeologist speak to our common humanity. Christians have continued to study the early church artifacts and writings. The unique finds in Christendom have enhanced and detracted the faith of many. The written record and artifacts will continue to have this effect on the Christian church. The record of the past is an powerful tool by which civilizations and kingdoms have used to govern and advance. I used to believe the civilizations of old only happened in certain areas of the world, but now know that the great structures and cities have been discovered in archaeological digs all over the world. The mystery of lost civilizations is intriguing. The decoding of ancient language and sharing of ancient technology and philosophy continue to influence our modern world. The belief systems of the ancient cultures inspired the art and architecture. The powerful kings and kingdoms were able to govern and keep the people in order to amass such great empires and cities. People no matter where they lived on earth are distinctly different from the animals.
The cross without the image of Jesus on it, just the plain cross, is a point of reference to where our investigation and skeptical view of life came to a new conclusion. The unbelief and questions of the world fade for the believer at the cross. The death of our Savior needed no monument because the believer knows the place where they laid Jesus body was also empty just like the cross that once held his body. The mummies and tombs of the great civilizations of the past are evidence of mankind’s common pursuit is uniquely human desire to know the afterlife and the spiritual life.
Long ago and today peoples desire to live on. The accounts of Jesus appearing to many in the Bible help me to believe, He is the one who did indeed rise from the dead. The church and the monuments that are in memory of Jesus life share the pain of death’s grip. The cross, however, reminds Christians of the prophecy about Jesus before He was born to Mary and Joseph. The cross is where Jesus conquered death and the grave. The cross helps us to investigate the ancient funeral and mausoleum God prepared for Jesus. The cross is the window by which we believers can in faith behold the living monument. The cross connects the lest and the lost into relationship with the wisdom of old and the eternal purpose of Jesus life and death and resurrection. The eulogy Jesus could not be expressed in words, but because of His divine nature His memorial on earth must surpass any other monument. Hence, the belief of God in Jesus and the death on the cross is an eternal experience reserved for those who accept the invite to faith in Him.
The cross is a rugged accursed thing, while simultaneously a blessed window into the greatest feat for all mankind. There are monuments in the Holy Land that lay claim to Jesus tomb but the body of Jesus is not there. Join the church today and believe in the finished work of Jesus and be a part of a building that is not built by human hands, which will never decay or fall in disrepair nor will it’s riches be taken from within. The physical representations of kingdoms and kings are only powerful during the reign of the king. The cross holds it’s power throughout eternity because, ” ..Your throne, O God will last for ever ..”. Hebrews 1: 8b. The monuments of man always show the decay and faulty human condition. The cross stands allow in it’s eternal status and power. The crosses we see may decay in time but the immortal Man and message shall stand. I ask you what cross will bring you to believe, will you trust in the cross in which Jesus still sits in agony, or will you join me and take the cross that is standing alone without Jesus on it. Jesus over came the world ,and the cross could not hold him. Remember the cross had a temporary role on the life of Jesus and it is only to remind us that He finished His ministry in His body on earth by dying on the cross and rising from the dead 3 days later. He is not eternally suffering on the cross. His body did suffer the cross but He has a glorified body now, and is asking us to believe in what he accomplished on the cross. While on the cross he said, …”It is finished with that ,he bowed his head and gave up His spirit. John 19: 30b. The death He died , He died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. Romans 6:10. The cross we wear as jewelry and some to show allegiance to Christianity could these crosses represent God being the righteous judge of the whole world offers His own precious blood? The cross might symbolize of our disregard to the message of the Jesus. What has led us to trample and destroy the memorial of God’s love that is the cross? The people of ancient times never came back and executed justice on those who desecrated and robed their tombs and memorials. God has demonstrated through the life of Jesus that he can and will execute His justice on the world. Please take the plea bargain ,and confess Jesus as Lord and believe God raised him from the dead and confess your sins and be cleaned from your sins by the blood Jesus shed on the cross for you and me.