“For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.” 1 Timothy 6:7
Recently, it was my privilege to visit the Eighth Wonder of the World in the ancient city of Xi’an, China. I had heard stories about this human “wonder,” so I looked forward with great anticipation to seeing it with my own eyes! I was not disappointed! The terra cotta army is part of an elaborate mausoleum depicting soldiers protecting the emperor of China in the afterlife.
Qin Shi Huang Di, the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty, came to the throne in 246 B.C. at the age of 13. He was a man of great talent and strength and within 25 years unified the 7 warring provinces in China and became their emperor. During his reign, he standardized coins, weights and measures and built roads and canals to link the provinces. He is the emperor credited for beginning the building of the Great Wall. Shortly after he began his reign, he ordered a mausoleum built to protect his body in the next life. More than 700,000 laborers worked on the project and put together as many as 8,000 lifesize figures of soldiers, including all ranks of warriors, with different features, expressions, hairstyles and weapons. Their uniforms were elaborate and painted with bright colors. Along with the soldiers, there were horses, chariots and weapons he would need in the afterlife. He lined his burial place with a treasury of riches and precious gemstones, jade jewelry, gold and silver ornaments. One historian said, the emperor so feared his workers would disclose the treasures in the tomb, that after his burial, the gates were shut, the tomb was sealed and all the artisans and laborers who had worked so hard for the emperor were buried alive!
Emperor Qin was so widely hated and had so little regard for human life, the Emperor who succeeded him destroyed many of the buildings and monuments built during his reign. Within 4 years, two of the funeral pits were discovered and the terra cotta soldiers were smashed and set on fire. To this day, only one kneeling soldier has been found intact! The rest have been painstakingly glued back together! It reminds me of the verse in Matthew 16:26, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”
Emperor Qin thought he could get to heaven by his power and wealth and foolishly thought an army of statues would protect him. He believed mercury had life-giving power and so surrounded himself with the toxic element believing it might make him live forever! He had no regard for the God of Heaven and thought he could do what was right in his own eyes.
We smile at this foolishness, but what do we give in exchange for our soul? Is it money, power, fine houses, fast cars, jewelry or whatever makes us feel good for the moment. “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction………But, as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession.” 1 Timothy 6:9,11-12.
Too late, Emperor Qin realized he could take nothing into the next life!
Your friend, Jean