Where Will You Go When You Close Your Eyes To This Life?
Saturday, 29 Mar 2025, 11:01
Visible to anyone in the world
Edited by Jim McCrory, Saturday, 29 Mar 2025, 11:02
"Why is there a deep hope within us that life does not end when we close our eyes to this life?
Why are there concepts of Paradise, Heaven, a New World, Valhalla, Fiddler's Green,
The Elysian Fields, Tian, Jannah, and many more? "
Image generated with the assistance of Microsoft Copilot
"Last
Saturday, I visited the British Museum, and as I wandered among the artifacts,
it was evident that the items found in graves, tombs, and burial chambers
belonged to past humans who believed in an afterlife. In some instances,
pharaohs and similar figures were buried with their servants, presumably so
they wouldn't enter the netherworld without the convenience of having
everything done for them.
However,
a particular burial that caught my attention this week was a discovery in the
Czech Republic due to its unusual contents. This Bronze Age burial, found
accidentally near the town of Břeclav in South Moravia in 2021, included a
unique artifact—a puppet-like figure with a ceramic head. Dating back
approximately 4,500 years, the burial featured this puppet, which had a head
mounted on what seemed to be a wooden body, though the wood has not survived
the ages. The head was distinctively decorated with incised geometric patterns,
suggesting it might have held cultural or possibly spiritual significance.
Yet,
I can't help but wonder—archaeologists sometimes make mistakes as their
conclusions often involve a degree of guesswork. Even if it's educated
guesswork, considerable disagreement among scholars persists. My theory?
Perhaps this puppet was how the individual earned a living and entertained.
After all, who doesn’t enjoy a good puppet show? And what better way to tell
future generations who he was?
But
these burial practices raise some weighty thoughts regarding the human psyche;
why is there a deep hope within us that life does not end when we close our
eyes to this life? Why are there concepts of Paradise, Heaven, a New World,
Valhalla, Fiddler's Green, The Elysian Fields, Tian, Jannah, and many more?
Wherever you look in the world of cultures, there is a name for the afterlife.
The
truth is, in God’s original purpose, mankind was given everlasting life. That
was, until sin entered the mix and brought death through sin. Jesus came to
release mankind who accept and believe in him to have the opportunity of life
everlasting. That’s why he spoke to the repentant criminal on the cross and
promised, “You will be with me in paradise.”
But
returning to the burial practices, this discovery made me reflect on what I
would want to be buried with. What could future generations learn about me from
such items? Perhaps my writer’s notebook would be a fitting choice.
Now,
what about you? What would you leave behind for future generations that would
hint at your identity?"
Where Will You Go When You Close Your Eyes To This Life?
"Why is there a deep hope within us that life does not end when we close our eyes to this life?
Why are there concepts of Paradise, Heaven, a New World, Valhalla, Fiddler's Green,
The Elysian Fields, Tian, Jannah, and many more? "
Image generated with the assistance of Microsoft Copilot
"Last Saturday, I visited the British Museum, and as I wandered among the artifacts, it was evident that the items found in graves, tombs, and burial chambers belonged to past humans who believed in an afterlife. In some instances, pharaohs and similar figures were buried with their servants, presumably so they wouldn't enter the netherworld without the convenience of having everything done for them.
However, a particular burial that caught my attention this week was a discovery in the Czech Republic due to its unusual contents. This Bronze Age burial, found accidentally near the town of Břeclav in South Moravia in 2021, included a unique artifact—a puppet-like figure with a ceramic head. Dating back approximately 4,500 years, the burial featured this puppet, which had a head mounted on what seemed to be a wooden body, though the wood has not survived the ages. The head was distinctively decorated with incised geometric patterns, suggesting it might have held cultural or possibly spiritual significance.
Yet, I can't help but wonder—archaeologists sometimes make mistakes as their conclusions often involve a degree of guesswork. Even if it's educated guesswork, considerable disagreement among scholars persists. My theory? Perhaps this puppet was how the individual earned a living and entertained. After all, who doesn’t enjoy a good puppet show? And what better way to tell future generations who he was?
But these burial practices raise some weighty thoughts regarding the human psyche; why is there a deep hope within us that life does not end when we close our eyes to this life? Why are there concepts of Paradise, Heaven, a New World, Valhalla, Fiddler's Green, The Elysian Fields, Tian, Jannah, and many more? Wherever you look in the world of cultures, there is a name for the afterlife.
The truth is, in God’s original purpose, mankind was given everlasting life. That was, until sin entered the mix and brought death through sin. Jesus came to release mankind who accept and believe in him to have the opportunity of life everlasting. That’s why he spoke to the repentant criminal on the cross and promised, “You will be with me in paradise.”
But returning to the burial practices, this discovery made me reflect on what I would want to be buried with. What could future generations learn about me from such items? Perhaps my writer’s notebook would be a fitting choice.
Now, what about you? What would you leave behind for future generations that would hint at your identity?"
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,
and there will be no more death
or mourning or crying or pain,
for the former things have passed away.”
Revelation 21:4 (BSB).