DREAMS OF DEATH
The new revised edition of “Thriving in Quarantine” is launching on Sunday, November 21 on Amazon!
Frances Hiller of Wilmington, Massachusetts, died in the spring of 1900. Several years before passing, she purchased a $30,000 hand-carved coffin and a $20,000 funeral dress—both valued at $1.6 million in today’s currency. She placed the coffin in her parlor. When guests visited, Frances donned her death attire, and climbed in the casket, so they might observe the splendor of her future corpse. Eventually, she wearied of this game, and placed a wax dummy in the expensive box.
Frances had it all planned. She and her husband, who possessed identical coffins, were laid to rest in a gaudy mausoleum. Thirty-five years later, the tomb was considered an eyesore, and torn down.
My “creepy meter” spikes just reading this story. Picturing this woman in her coffin is the seed for a good horror flick. But setting aside the morbidity of it all, we’re compelled to ask a more probing question: Why would someone pour such a fortune into a fancy box and dress, that would eventually rot and be consumed by worms? Misplaced priorities? Obsession with death? A twisted belief that the appearance of our dead body really matters?
Scripture is clear that focusing on our “earth suit” is futile. Our physical body simply serves as a transitory vehicle for the soul; a temporary garment to house the eternal spirit. Second Corinthians 4:16 states that while “our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.” First Corinthians 15:43 declares that “These ugly and weak bodies will become beautiful and strong.” Clearly, we must care for our earth suit, but ultimately it will rot in ruin.
The solution is to focus our priorities on the eternal. No matter how much we value this life, no matter how much we cling to the things around us, the material simply doesn’t endure—whether our bodies, wealth, or possessions. Even if we possess a coffin and funeral attire valued at a million bucks, it’s all going to rot. Besides that, no one will see you because you’ll be buried in a hole in the ground! This world was never designed to fulfill us, because nothing we see endures. Seeking fulfillment in this life is, as the old country saying goes, like pouring sand down a gopher hole. Or, like being buried in a million-dollar box.
Principle: The physical things of this life do not endure.
Ponder:
In what ways might I be focusing too much on the temporal?
How can I begin placing more emphasis on the eternal?
Pursue: For a deeper dive, study 1 Corinthians 15:35-58.
Prayer: “Lord all around us we see reminders that physical things will not endure. Please use these reminders to focus my heart on the eternal.”
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The new revised edition of “Thriving in Quarantine” is launching on Sunday, November 21 ! Here’s the link to purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BGDW2NV