That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace. Psalm 144:12.
One question still niggled at the back of my mind. My husband and I had been in Egypt for five whole days and would be returning to England in less than twenty-four hours. Our tour guide, Waheed, had taken us to temples where we had been dazzled by the intricacy of the carvings; the red, yellows, and blues still vibrant after 3,000 years. I had been mesmerized by the mirages glimpsed across the vast desert and captivated by the skill of the local craftsmen fashioning translucent vases and sculptures of polished alabaster stone and marble.
Now, on our last day, I stood beside our guide in the Valley of the Kings—the final resting place of the Pharaohs—as Waheed described how each succeeding ruler spent the bulk of his reign overseeing the preparation of his tomb. It was a task which took many years. Waheed showed us one tomb with hardly any carvings; the Pharaoh had died before his tomb had been completed.
I listened attentively but eventually asked the question that was on my mind.
“Waheed, where are the palaces? Where did these kings actually live?”
“Ah,” Waheed smiled, “I’m so glad you asked that. It is a very good question. You see, the ancient Egyptians believed that living here was only temporary. So they built their homes and palaces from mud bricks. However, they believed that after death they would inhabit the afterlife forever. That is why their tombs and temples are made from stone—a more enduring material—and finished with such lavish detail.”
We too are on a temporary earthly journey preparing for an eternity with Christ, our soon-coming King. Sometimes though, we confuse our priorities and neglect the things that really matter. Being kind to one another, investing time in our children, making an effort to improve our characters: these are the things that count. Those ancient craftsmen attended to every detail to produce temples and tombs that stood the test of time. Master Craftsman, I put myself in Your hands and invite You to define my contours and to smooth every coarse habit and inclination until I am “polished” like the cornerstone of a palace that will stand forever.
Avery Davis
First published in Notes of Joy (Nampa, ID: Pacific Press), 2018.
Carolyn R. Sutton, editor
