New Orleans has incredible cemeteries.  Since it rains so much, “burials” are above ground.  Otherwise, coffins would rot and collapse and there would be huge holes where the dead are buried.  Or, the bodies might simply wash away.  So, instead, mausoleums are built.  A corpse will be placed in an upper shelf, then when someone else in the family dies, the old corpse will be placed on a lower shelf, so the new corpse can be on the top shelf. If you look out over a New Orleans cemetery, the mausoleums look like a city of the dead, known as a necropolis.

Some of these mausoleums are huge and ornate as though the dead are living in them.

This is reminiscent of Egyptian pyramids where pharaohs would be placed with figurines of their slaves, animals and chariots.  Riches and foods would be placed in them so the dead can use them in the afterlife.

The truth is, the dead do come to life again.  There will be a resurrection of all people so that every knee can bow and every tongue can confess Jesus as Lord (Philippians 2:10-11).  Some will do so in fear because they will be separated from him for eternity, and some will do so in love because they have already been with Jesus spiritually, and now they will have new bodies for a new heaven and earth.

Sunday I’m preaching on “See the Dead Come to Life” from Ezekiel 37:1-14.  We’ll look at “Speak in the Valley of Dry Bones,” verses 1-10; and “Let the Spirit Bring Life,” verses 11-14.  Please come and help us celebrate resurrection to eternal, abundant life!

Love,

Jim Meek