In an earlier post, I had commented that it was ironic, if not deceitful, for man to exposit the glories of yesteryear from amongst the remnant, skeletal ruins. The Senior Citizens were on an excursion last Saturday. On the itinerary was a tour of the Palace of the Golden Horses. Although barely ten minutes from my home, it had never occurred to me to visit this monumental building. My friends had stayed in that hotel and I had only chauffeured them to and from the building without any further consideration. The tour was, in a sense, overdue.
The hotel was true to her name in that it is palatial. At the entrance, there stood this horses-drawn chariot that was more Roman than Malaysian. The outer design reminded of a Middle-Eastern culture whilst on the insides, were high roofs and canopies, reminiscent of French bourgeois. The marble floors were of assorted hue and color. The porch had black marble ingrained with streaks of red and gold, whilst the inner foyers of a rich beige. Some steps were of a pleasant pink. The tiles were a feast, if one was so inclined. Aligned along the foyers were huge vases; we parodied in jest that they were either vats for the rich olive oils or funeral urns to hide skeletons. There was a huge array of rich wood in carvings, furniture and balusters that adorned the corridors; a complete bumpkin with carvings, I am totally unsure of their origins. Coherent with her name, there were plenty of horses; of different cultures, countries and material. The statues and especially the statuettes were immaculate. The disappointment lay in the front-glass door which looked so miserly in contrast, an unattended aircon-duct that stained the ceiling because it was not properly maintained, and the fading roof-tiles that reflected the ravage of Malaysian weather.
It was certainly quite a place to be, a testament to the achievement of a man. It seemed strange that such monumental finesse was dedicated to a hotel, a much bigger inn of sorts, catering to visitors all and sundry for a pittance if compared to the cost of design, building, materials and on-going maintenance. It is conceivable that a man would be quite engrossed with this achievement, as visitors marvel and attest to its grandeur. Even more replete would be the tour guides rippling the pond of adulation by their declarations that the hotel was specifically inspired by, built, and dedicated to a former premier of the nation.
Taking a seat and contemplating the achievement of man, we remain thankful that the Almighty has indeed given to man, the ability and the materials with which he could today complete this feat. It is undeniable that even the wisdom of Solomon could not spin a vestment worthy to compete with the lilies. The beauty of the Palace lay much in the raw materials and artistry of little known craftsmen.
For "the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof." (1Co 10:26)
Yet scripture foretells that the entire creation will grow old and will one day be destroyed.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. (2Pe 3:10)
Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and they who dwell in it will die in like manner; but my salvation will be forever, and my righteousness will never be dismayed. (Isa 51:6)
The earth and our lives were given to us to fully benefit and enjoy the goodness of the LORD. Like little children we are ever so often enthralled with the gifts and trinkets, that we forget completely the Giver. The apostle Paul had this exhortation;
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (Col 3:2)
The apostle Peter ratcheted it a notch;
Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, (2Pe 3:11)
If we would therefore venture to build, and live significant lives; only what is done for Christ will last.
God bless.
/ckh
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