As I walked through the Taj Mahal, I had a song stuck in my head. “Beholding your beauty is all that I long for. To worship you Jesus is my soul desire. This very heart you have shaped for your pleasure. Purposed to lift your name high.” At first, I didn’t understand why the Lord reminded me of that particular song. I hadn’t heard it anywhere recently. The more I sang and hummed to myself though, I realized how little I understand worship and how rarely I marvel at the beauty of God.
The people of India understand honor and worship. The ways they worship here challenges me. I don’t have their kind of dedication or devotion right now. I don’t worship God the way they worship other gods and creations.
In 1631, the emperor at the time, Shah Jahan, commissioned the construction of the Taj Mahal in honor and memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Mumtaz was the favorite of his three wives, and she died during the birth of their 14th child. The entire mausoleum is made of white marble with semi previous stones inlaid on the walls. It took 22 years, 20,000 workers, 33 million rupees, and 1,000 elephants to compete. She never saw the structure or even the plans for this masterpiece, but he loves her so much; he made sure she would never be forgotten.
The Taj Mahal was unlike anything I have ever seen. For one thing, it is huge, at least 3 times bigger than I imagined. It looked small in every picture I’d seen, but it is impossible to accurately photograph such a large structure up close. The Taj is also painstakingly intricate. The letters on the front arch of the entry are written larger on top to create the illusion that the letters are all the same size. Each lotus flower, on the inside walls around the tombs are made of 66 small stones, and each stone is individually shaped to fit the space carved into the marble.
For a monument, so grand and majestic, I was bothered by a sense that something was missing. I couldn’t just relax and soak in the beauty of the Taj like everyone else. Nope, I had a revelation. The Taj Mahal, the “crown of palaces” lacked God’s glory. Unlike gorgeous cathedrals, where the Lord’s presence is welcomed, the spirit of the Lord was not a priority there. The monument is for one special woman. Can you imagine being one of the other two wives watching this massive memorial being built for her burial?
It’s hard for me to comprehend how much time and resources are poured into tombs in India. I’ve visited several this week: Humayun’s tomb, the Qutub Shahi tombs, and the Taj Mahal. After visiting all three, we found out the architecture of the first two inspired the design of the Taj Mahal. Seeing how people here love and honor their lost loved ones challenged me. How much more can I offer the living God?
So this week, 2016 snuck up on me, and I am asking myself: What can I do with my life to bring glory and honor and praise to God long after I’m gone? I get one month in each county this year. I get maybe a century here on this earth.
He deserves far more than I can comprehend.
Now into the Lamb who sits on the throne.
Be glory and honor and praise.
All of creation resounds with the song.
Worship and praise Him
The Lord of lords
All of creation resounds with the song.
Worship and praise Him
The Lord of lords
Happy New Year from India!
Love and miss y’all!
