Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. Matthew 6:20aIn Cairo there is a grave and an exhibit that represent two opposing worldviews concerning true treasure. In a grave lies William Borden, a Yale graduate and heir to great wealth, who lived from 1887 until 1913. Borden rejected a life of ease in order to bring the gospel to Muslims. Refusing even to buy himself a car, he gave away hundreds of thousands of dollars to missions.
After only four months of zealous ministry in Egypt, he contracted spinal meningitis and died at the age of twenty-five. In the epitaph on Borden’s grave is a description of his love and sacrifices for the kingdom of God and for Muslim people. The inscription ends with the phrase, “Apart from faith in Christ, there is no explanation for this life.”
The Egyptian National Museum contains the mind-boggling exhibit of King Tut. Tutankhamen, the boy king, was only seventeen when he died. He was buried with solid gold chariots and thousands of golden artifacts. His gold coffin was found within gold tombs within gold tombs within gold tombs. The burial site was filled with tons of gold.
The Egyptians believed in an afterlife—one where they could take earthly treasures. But all the treasures intended for King Tut’s eternal enjoyment stayed right where they were until Howard Carter discovered the burial chambers in 1922. They hadn’t been touched for more than three thousand years.
Borden’s grave is obscure, dusty, and hidden off the back alley of a street littered with garbage. Tutankhamen’s tomb glittered with unimaginable wealth. Yet where are these two young men now? One, who lived in opulence and called himself king, is in the misery of a Christless eternity. The other, who lived a modest life on earth in service of the one true King, is enjoying his everlasting reward in the presence of the King of kings the Lord Jesus Christ.
Tut’s life was tragic because of an awful truth discovered too late—he couldn’t take his treasures with him. William Borden’s life was triumphant. Why? Because instead of leaving behind his treasures, he sent them on ahead. (Randy Alcorn, The Treasure Principle)
1 comment:
A few months ago, I saw a King Tut exhibit. It provided a great opportunity for reflection on what greater treasurers we live for when we live for Christ. It was sad when you think of the burden the people of those times was carrying. The effort they went through to "take" everything with them is mind boggling.
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