Funny thing about people – they eventually wear out, die, and are buried. Pretty common! What is not so common is ‘the way’ many are buried – thus, we have archeology crews around the globe digging up the remains of our poor ancestors.
There’s a fascinating account on “The History Blog” concerning the Emperor Charlemagne. The title reads: “Charlemagne’s bones found in his coffin.” This may sound a bit obvious, but when you take into account how many times he’s been exhumed & reburied, with most parts of him given away as relics, it’s actually quite remarkable that anything at all is still left.
Charlemagne died about 1200 years ago – January 28th, 814 – and was buried in the Palatine Chapel. In 1000, Otto III, anxious to present himself as the rightful successor of Charlemagne, had the burial vault opened.
According to the German chronicler & bishop of the time, when the vault was opened, they found Charlemagne’s uncorrupt body seated upon a marble throne, wearing a crown with a scepter in his hand. In his lap was a copy of the New Testament with his finger pointing to a verse – Matthew 16:26 – “For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”
Personally, my brain-creed seems to be = life is short and eternity is a long time to spend in the wrong place! So, I think it’s extremely important we invest our time in things which are of eternal value. All that glitters is not gold. The boastings of this world are of much less value than “gaining that heart of wisdom” Psalm 90 speaks of – “Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.”
Your body’s chemical value is estimated to be around $17.18. Now – if you wanted to make a quick buck, you could throw in a kidney and get around $10,000 on the black market. And, by the way, if you need a kidney and buy one, it will set you back between $80,000 and $200,000. My advice: hold onto your kidneys because it’s not worth it.
But, now your soul – it’s actually the most valuable possession one has and this is what our friend Charlemagne was trying to tell us. Our soul is exceptionally valuable for three primary reasons: First of all, because we are made in the image of God. Secondly – our soul is eternal – its existence is not terminated when our body is buried. And thirdly, our soul is extremely valuable because of the cost it took to redeem it. Salvation for ones soul is a very big deal.
There’s a memorable story concerning a headhunter and his potential hires. Our headhunter friend is very calculated & savvy. He sits across the desk from the possible future recruits and makes small talk. He loosens his tie – talks baseball, football, etc. – anything to put ‘his person’ at ease.
Then, at just the right moment, he leans forward in his chair and looks the individual straight in their eyes and asks them, “What is it you really want to accomplish in life? What is your true purpose?” He then proceeds to outline this stellar, new, high-paying job he has for them that will “change their life!”
So one day, he has a guy in there we’ll call Brady. Our recruiter goes through all the motions and finally moves in for ‘the kill.” He slowly leans in and looks Brady right in his eyes and asks him, “So Brady – what is it you really want to accomplish in life? What’s your true purpose?” Brady looks the recruiter straight on, leans in his direction and replies, “My purpose in life is to go to heaven and take as many people with me as I possibly can!”
Needless to say, the recruiter never had a reply quite like that. But really, shouldn’t that be every Christ-followers true purpose?! I have always loved the following quote by Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) and have it found it be be both edgy & soul-stirring: “If sinners are damned at least let them leap to Hell over our bodies. If they perish, let then perish with our arms about their knees. Let no one go there unwarned and un-prayed for.” Selah!
Bob and Susan Beckett pastor The Dwelling Place City Church at 27100 Girard Street
in Hemet, CA. For more information, you may contact them at DPCiychurch.org