“There are many things that will catch your eye, but only a few will catch your heart...pursue those things." Michael Nolan

The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza Necropolis. It contains more than two million stone blocks averaging 2.5 tons each. Every one of these limestone blocks was cut out by hand from quarries sometimes miles away and pulled up ramps of dirt to be stacked one upon the other to a height of 480 feet. One hundred thousand men worked constructing it, and for 3800 years, it was the tallest man-made structure in the world.

What an odd use of resources and work force, this building of pyramid tombs. Yet to the ancient Egyptians the work was holy. It expressed the way they understood the universe and so no one questioned the incredible cost of time, resources, and human life.

As amazing as the structure is itself, the treasure that was kept within was truly remarkable. Tomb furniture and household artifacts of gold and precious stones are just the beginning of the story. Jewelry, graven images of gods in the form of men, women, and animals, models of ships and houses testify not only to the wealth but also to the heart of the builder. The ancient history of the Egyptian people as well as all scientific knowledge of the day was engraved on slate pallets and placed within the tombs. All this and the sarcophagus itself, is simply the beginning of a vast treasure sealed inside the pyramids for the exclusive use of the Pharaoh in his journey through eternity. The monetary value of such a treasure is incalculable. Therefore, I am left asking, “all for what?” These things supplied not one thing of real value for any of the men or women to whom they were dedicated. What a startling awakening to them death must have been.

In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus tells us, “Don't hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it's safe from moth and rust, and burglars. It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is is the place you will most want to be and end up being.” (MSG) Where’s your treasure and where’s your heart? Even the most spiritually minded of us say, “But I must live; I must make a certain amount of money; I must be clothed; I must be fed.” The great concern of our lives is not the kingdom of God but how we are going to take care of ourselves. Jesus cuts to the heart, and reverses the order by telling us to get the right relationship with God first, maintaining it as the primary concern of our lives, and never to place our concern on taking care of the other things of life. So where is your heart? A very precious treasure of yours is watching.

Thanks for reading!