I think some people think they’re supposed to have major
epiphanies when they visit places like Angkor Wat.
epiphanies when they visit places like Angkor Wat.
Epiphanies like their stature in the face of
temples/cathedrals/monuments/etc. that have stood for thousands of years.
temples/cathedrals/monuments/etc. that have stood for thousands of years.
Moments where they might be on the brink of acknowledging
God’s existence.
God’s existence.
Did I expect to have one?
Not really.
But I got it anyway.
Posing with a group of dancers inside Angkor Wat.
We were on our way to one of the temples in the Angkor
complex, driving by a few others in our route, when I looked out the window of
our van and looked.
complex, driving by a few others in our route, when I looked out the window of
our van and looked.
There was a temple, and it was
falling apart.
falling apart.
My teammates’ discussion earlier about how angry it must
make God to see all these temples that took so much time and effort to build
(35-50 years, depending on the temple in question) knowing not one of the ones
we were walking through was built to worship Him was swirling around in my
head.
make God to see all these temples that took so much time and effort to build
(35-50 years, depending on the temple in question) knowing not one of the ones
we were walking through was built to worship Him was swirling around in my
head.
All of this work they
put into building these, and it’s falling apart.I was angry, too. But deep down inside, my heart was
breaking.
put into building these, and it’s falling apart.I was angry, too. But deep down inside, my heart was
breaking.
Religion, false gods, idolatry surrounding us from all sides
– a testament to the staying power of lies in our lives.
– a testament to the staying power of lies in our lives.
Restoration project signs are posted all over the complex,
detailing which country is restoring what, and how much it’s costing them (the
other country, not Cambodia) to restore it.
detailing which country is restoring what, and how much it’s costing them (the
other country, not Cambodia) to restore it.
Areas in the temples are roped off because of all the work-
far more so than any other reason.
far more so than any other reason.
These temples are good and sturdy, but they won’t stand
forever on their own.
forever on their own.
So, as I took it all in, the thoughts in my head continued
to churned.
to churned.
They finally came together cohesively at Ta Prohm (the Tomb
Raider temple) in one simple passage.
Raider temple) in one simple passage.
“Do not lay up for yourself treasures on earth, where moth
and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal: but lay up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where
thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart
may be also.”
and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal: but lay up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where
thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart
may be also.”
-Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV
Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm… all the temples in the Angkor complex
– really, all the temples/mosques/etc around the world dedicated to false
religions – are just gorgeous pictures of treasures that have been stored up on
earth.
– really, all the temples/mosques/etc around the world dedicated to false
religions – are just gorgeous pictures of treasures that have been stored up on
earth.
But the fact of the matter is that they are falling apart.
No matter how beautiful they are, no matter how awesomely they’ve been built,
these things are being destroyed.
No matter how beautiful they are, no matter how awesomely they’ve been built,
these things are being destroyed.
By time, by the elements, by people.
Doesn’t really matter how – all you have to do is look
around to acknowledge it.
around to acknowledge it.
Inside Angkor Wat – a project Germany is funding to rebuild a couple of corners
on the outside temple walls.
on the outside temple walls.
I’ve been blessed to know the living, loving, all-powerful
Maker who is far more concerned about having a relationship with me where I
know He loves me than about anything else.
Maker who is far more concerned about having a relationship with me where I
know He loves me than about anything else.
What the majority of people in Cambodia
know and understand is far different, and while I long for a devotion deep
enough to spend decades creating something so beautiful to my God, the gods
they’ve built these things for are lies.
know and understand is far different, and while I long for a devotion deep
enough to spend decades creating something so beautiful to my God, the gods
they’ve built these things for are lies.
Not only are these temples treasures on earth, but they’re
treasures given to something other than the One who is worthy and deserving of
these gifts.
treasures given to something other than the One who is worthy and deserving of
these gifts.
More than ever, the people of Cambodia
need Jesus.
need Jesus.
And we as Christians really need to stop seeing the things
of this world as treasures and worship at the feet of our Creator.
of this world as treasures and worship at the feet of our Creator.
Otherwise how can we see these false treasures for what they
really are?
really are?
