Bury, That which is Dead.

Throughout history, mankind has learned to deal with death in all manners, shapes, and forms. As a matter of fact, one could argue that it is a subject that everyone is familiar with in some way. Whether we face it directly from someone we were close to, or possibly a stranger on the news, we all have some form of feeling and emotion that ties into death. For humans, we have specific ways of mourning and coping with grief, albeit each person handles this differently. Cultures and times past have shown us that we bury the dead, that we incinerate the dead, that we even preserve… the dead. Inevitably, we part from the dead, whether we like it or not.

            In the culture of ants and a few other species of insect and bug, they, too, have their own ways of handling the dead. Ants specifically have a process by the name of “Necrophoresis.” You see, this process sounds like it deals with death in a dramatic way. In all simplicity, however, it is probably one of the easiest ways for nature to deal with death. When an ant dies in or near the nest or colony, the ants simply move the dead bodies to a location far, far away from their dwelling. At first glance, this is somewhat similar to the actions of humans in the form of a graveyard. Most commonly, it is away from our place of dwelling, although this is not always the case. There is a very stark difference between us and ants, however, in emotion.

            Ants do not mourn their dead, they do not miss them, and certainly they do not visit them after death. Their version of a graveyard is simply a dumping ground for them, a form of sanitation. When a member of the colony dies in the tunnel, for example, they do not even register the death, that is, until they begin to smell the scent of death. The scent is usually a chemical signal to the others that decay has started from the dead ant. Unlike humans, who can wholly see and comprehend death before we smell it, ants typically must wait until it has progressed. In our modern society, we remove the body as soon as we understand it to be deceased. Even if our emotions constrain us to falsely deny what is before our eyes.

            Apart from ants’ lack of emotions in dealing with the dead, there are two reasons specifically as to why they do this. The first is to remain clean. Remaining clean limits and prevents the spread of deadly diseases throughout their nest. It keeps them strong in their health. The other, however, is predators. Predators are attracted to the scent of death that emits from the bodies of the deceased and decayed. Removing the smell to a distant location, and the chance of being attacked at the nest is much less likely.

            Now I would like to charge into the grit of this article. How does this relate to us? How does it relate to our sin? Well, as the Lord has put simply in the Bible, Romans 6:23, “The wages of sin is death…”. There is a point eventually each of us must come to, a realization, that there is death around them. There is sin prevalent in different areas of life, and the size of that sin does not matter. Some may see it and recognize the sin for what it is; others of us will not understand it until we can smell it. In all of us, however, it is there, and it is decaying. Jesus Christ defeated Death, Hell, and the Grave. He brought them into the submission of his will. He created what is a means for a “dumping ground” for our sins. Of flesh has the human characteristic of wanting to cling to that sin, that death. It refuses to let go, to let us be sanitary and clean, and if we do, it compels us with the desire to visit the graveyard. To revel in memories and the times at which our soul seemed to have a “fondness” for that sin. If we are not careful, we will find ourselves buried next to the sin that was a sickness. If we are not careful, we will see that the stench of decay has brought moral atrocities to our very doorstep. Ultimately, our flesh understands it is not long-lived in this world.

            At times, we must be like the ant; we simply need to clean house. To create a dwelling free from disease, safe from enemies, and most of all, a pleasing place for the Lord to dwell in. Our soul needs to be focused on the nest, the colony, Jesus Christ. It needs to look at the life presented to us, the everlasting that was purchased for us, where death will no longer be relevant, and its shadow can no longer be cast. God has placed nature before us for more reasons than we could ever list. Let us treat sin like the ants treat death. And let us treat ourselves like the ants treat the colony. In all things, let us glorify God for his unending wisdom.

Gaven F, a grateful believer in Jesus Christ, striving for moral and sexual purity.