Day 01 - Eternity in Our Hearts

We had an incredible first day here in Egypt with 38 people from all over the U.S.! 

Our journey began by diving into Old Kingdom Egypt, exploring the Step Pyramid of Saqqara, the first of its kind. This complex is remarkable—not only is it home to the earliest pyramid structure, but it also contains some of the first buildings ever made from cut stone, an amazing architectural achievement. We also spent time at the Giza Pyramid Complex, standing in awe of these iconic structures, not to mention, the only last standing of the  “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.” Altogether, we saw about 22 of Egypt’s approximate 118 pyramids —a stunning introduction to the ancient world.

Our reflections today centered on two key themes:

    1. The Ancient Egyptian Obsession with the Afterlife

The worldview of the Egyptians was deeply consumed with preparing for what came next. Their Pyramid Texts (Old Kingdom), Coffin Texts (Middle Kingdom), and later Book of the Dead (New Kingdom) were filled with spells, prayers, and incantations designed to help them navigate the afterlife. This led us to reflect on Ecclesiastes 3:11, where it says that God has placed eternity in the hearts of humans. Across all cultures, people sense that there is something beyond this life. But for followers of Jesus, our hope isn’t in rituals or spells—it’s in the one who conquered death, the grave, and hell itself. Christ’s resurrection offers us life and hope beyond this world.

    2. Building a Lasting Kingdom

The Old Kingdom was an empire fueled by economic power and massive construction projects, but eventually, it crumbled into the First Intermediate Period. This raised a question for us: "Are we building a kingdom for ourselves—storing up treasures on earth—or are we investing in something that lasts beyond us?" Jesus challenges us to think about where we store our treasures (Matthew 6:19-21). More than grand pyramids or tombs, what truly matters is pouring into people, shaping lives that carry eternal significance.

Saleem…

Jerrell