The Eternal Adventure Chapter 21

Onward to the Eternal City

 

The first time I was in Rome was New Year’s Eve, 1971. We were staying in a cheap hotel in the center of the city. I fell asleep a few hours before midnight, but was awoken by loud crashing sounds as the clock struck 12. I jumped out of the bed and opened my window and discovered the source of the noise: All my neighbors were on their balconies throwing their dinner plates and soup and salad bowls into the street, shattering as they hit the pavement. This went on for many minutes until apparently all the old dinnerware was thrown and broken on the street. The flying ceramic shards actually injured one of the patrons of the hotel. The next day when I went outside for breakfast, there was not one square inch of pavement visible! The entire street was completely covered in broken dishes.

Apparently, this was an ancient Roman custom- to begin the New Year with new dishes.

 

 

Rome- The Colosseum 

 

 

The Roman Forum

 

Rome- The Arch of Constantine

 

Our last trip to Roma in 2018 was a planned 10-hour layover enroute to Tel Aviv on Saturday that turned into a five day stay when our passports were stolen at the Fontana Trevi.

 

 

Trevi Fountain - when the crime occurred!

 

 

Torre Alfina - where we stayed Saturday to Monday

 

 

The land of Olive Groves

 

 

We received new passports on the following Monday at the U.S. Embassy and had three days to show our children many of our favorite places in Rome.

 

 

Rome - The Spanish Steps

 

 

The visit ended with a tour of the Vatican Museum with our family eventually getting to the Sistine Chapel. As we marveled at the Michelangelo frescos of the Biblical scenes on the ceiling, many were taking photos with their cellphone cameras. I began taking a few myself until suddenly a guard tapped me on the shoulder, pointed to the ‘No Photography” sign, and escorted me to the exit.

Right before the guard led me to the exit.

My family followed and as we got to our bus stop back to our hotel by the train station, I realized that we had barely enough time make it back to our hotel, grab our bags and make the bus to the airport in time for our flight!

Our unplanned time in Torre Alfina and Rome gave us a unique opportunity to have a special time with our family. Another remarkable experience!

Principle: God often give us unique opportunities that we could have never planned on our own.

Rome is often referred to as the Eternal City. You can stand on many city streets and see a building or monument from the First Century next to a structure from the 20^th Century. As you walk through the palaces, churches, and Forum, you are suddenly aware of the bigger picture of history, and (for me) the relative shortness of my life. It is a good perspective.

Paul’s ministry that began in Western Asia expanded into Europe. Through the next years, the Christian community in Rome was established, and began to grow. Paul became known there through his personal relationships, as well as his letters. His desire to go there was a natural as well as a Holy Spirit inspired idea. And as it usually happens, the circumstances which got Paul there were different that what he might have planned, and his journey there was much more productive than he would have ever imagined.

As we will see, Paul’s path to the Eternal City was more of an ‘adventure’ than a simple journey. His began with a visit to the Temple in Jerusalem that turned into a riot, and his imprisonment. It’s a reminder to us that our path to the Real Eternal City, where Jesus sits on the throne, and we are somehow involved in his reign, will truly be a risky undertaking, but a remarkable experience.

It is through our own personal adventure with God that we truly experience His presence and in the process be drawn closer to Him and as a result of our journey, we will become more like Him.

 This is, I believe, the real purpose of our lives here on Earth.

Let’s pick up Luke’s narrative after the riot at the Temple, is arrest, and his audience before the Sanhedrin.

¹² The next morning a group of Jews got together and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. ¹³ There were more than forty of them in the conspiracy. ¹⁴ They went to the leading priests and elders and told them, “We have bound ourselves with an oath to eat nothing until we have killed Paul. ¹⁵ So you and the high council should ask the commander to bring Paul back to the council again. Pretend you want to examine his case more fully. We will kill him on the way.”
¹⁶ But Paul’s nephew—his sister’s son—heard of their plan and went to the fortress and told Paul. ¹⁷ Paul called for one of the Roman officers and said, “Take this young man to the commander. He has something important to tell him.”
¹⁸ So the officer did, explaining, “Paul, the prisoner, called me over and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.”
¹⁹ The commander took his hand, led him aside, and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?”
²⁰ Paul’s nephew told him, “Some Jews are going to ask you to bring Paul before the high council tomorrow, pretending they want to get some more information. ²¹ But don’t do it! There are more than forty men hiding along the way ready to ambush him. They have vowed not to eat or drink anything until they have killed him. They are ready now, just waiting for your consent.”
²² “Don’t let anyone know you told me this,” the commander warned the young man.
²³ Then the commander called two of his officers and ordered, “Get 200 soldiers ready to leave for Caesarea at nine o’clock tonight. Also take 200 spearmen and 70 mounted troops. ²⁴ Provide horses for Paul to ride, and get him safely to Governor Felix.” Acts 23:12-24

Because of a plot to kill Paul at the next hearing, the Roman commander sends Paul from Jerusalem to Caesarea to the Roman governor Felix. 

 

 

The port of Roman capital Caesarea

 

 

The Ruins of Caesarea

 

 

The recently discovered jail at Caesarea

 

When he arrives there, Temple officials follow and present their case against Paul. Now he has another unique opportunity to give his testimony to this Roman governor and his entire court. Paul admits being a follower of ‘The Way’, which the Christians were known as. They were considered to be another sect of Judaism, along with the Essenes, Pharisees, and Sadducees. He not addresses the charges against himself.

 “After several years away, I returned to Jerusalem with money to aid my people and to offer sacrifices to God. ¹⁸ My accusers saw me in the Temple as I was completing a purification ceremony. There was no crowd around me and no rioting. ¹⁹ But some Jews from the province of Asia were there—and they ought to be here to bring charges if they have anything against me! ²⁰ Ask these men here what crime the Jewish high council found me guilty of, ²¹ except for the one time I shouted out, ‘I am on trial before you today because I believe in the resurrection of the dead!’” 

²⁰ Ask these men here what crime the Jewish high council found me guilty of, ²¹ except for the one time I shouted out, ‘I am on trial before you today because I believe in the resurrection of the dead!’ ”

²² At that point Felix, who was quite familiar with the Way, adjourned the hearing and said, “Wait until Lysias, the garrison commander, arrives. Then I will decide the case.” ²³ He ordered an officer to keep Paul in custody but to give him some freedom and allow his friends to visit him and take care of his needs.

²⁴ A few days later Felix came back with his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish. Sending for Paul, they listened as he told them about faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁵ As he reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the coming day of judgment, Felix became frightened. “Go away for now,” he replied. “When it is more convenient, I’ll call for you again.” ²⁶ He also hoped that Paul would bribe him, so he sent for him quite often and talked with him.

²⁷ After two years went by in this way, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And because Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jewish people, he left Paul in prison. Act 24:17–27

Paul has limited freedom and can visit with his Christian community for the next two years, while he continues to speak with Felix and all the others associated with the Roman government. What an opportunity! When the new governor arrives, the Religious Jews in Jerusalem also arrive in Caesarea to press their case against Paul. 

Then Festus, wanting to please the Jews, asked him (Paul), “Are you willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there?”

 But Paul replied, “No! This is the official Roman court, so I ought to be tried right here. You know very well I am not guilty of harming the Jews.  If I have done something worthy of death, I don’t refuse to die. But if I am innocent, no one has a right to turn me over to these men to kill me. I appeal to Caesar!”

Festus conferred with his advisers and then replied, “Very well! You have appealed to Caesar, and to Caesar you will go!”  Acts 25:9–12

As a Roman citizen, Paul had the right to ‘due process’, and to have his case heard by Caesar himself. Paul now has an all-expense paid journey to Rome. But there is an even more unique opportunity ahead, as the ‘king’ of Judea and his sister, Agrippa and Bernice, pay the new governor an official visit.

Festus tells King Agrippa about Paul, and the charges against him.

“I’d like to hear the man myself,” Agrippa said.

And Festus replied, “You will—tomorrow!”

²³ So the next day Agrippa and Bernice arrived at the auditorium with great pomp, accompanied by military officers and prominent men of the city. Festus ordered that Paul be brought in. ²⁴ Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are here, this is the man whose death is demanded by all the Jews, both here and in Jerusalem. ²⁵ But in my opinion he has done nothing deserving death. However, since he appealed his case to the emperor, I have decided to send him to Rome.

²⁶ “But what shall I write the emperor? For there is no clear charge against him. So I have brought him before all of you, and especially you, King Agrippa, so that after we examine him, I might have something to write. ²⁷ For it makes no sense to send a prisoner to the emperor without specifying the charges against him!”

Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You may speak in your defense.”

So Paul, gesturing with his hand, started his defense: ² “I am fortunate, King Agrippa, that you are the one hearing my defense today against all these accusations made by the Jewish leaders, ³ for I know you are an expert on all Jewish customs and controversies. Now please listen to me patiently!   Acts 25:22–26:3

Now Paul has a unique opportunity to give his testimony to the great grandson and granddaughter of Herod The Great, the king who ruled Judea when Jesus was born, who built the Temple, who received the Wise Men from the east, and who ordered the killing of all babies under the age of two in Bethlehem. He tells them about his background as a Pharisee and his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus.

So Paul, gesturing with his hand, started his defense: ² “I am fortunate, King Agrippa, that you are the one hearing my defense today against all these accusations made by the Jewish leaders, ³ for I know you are an expert on all Jewish customs and controversies. Now please listen to me patiently!
⁴ “As the Jewish leaders are well aware, I was given a thorough Jewish training from my earliest childhood among my own people and in Jerusalem. ⁵ If they would admit it, they know that I have been a member of the Pharisees, the strictest sect of our religion. ⁶ Now I am on trial because of my hope in the fulfillment of God’s promise made to our ancestors. ⁷ In fact, that is why the twelve tribes of Israel zealously worship God night and day, and they share the same hope I have. Yet, Your Majesty, they accuse me for having this hope! ⁸ Why does it seem incredible to any of you that God can raise the dead?
⁹ “I used to believe that I ought to do everything I could to oppose the very name of Jesus the Nazarene. ¹⁰ Indeed, I did just that in Jerusalem. Authorized by the leading priests, I caused many believers there to be sent to prison. And I cast my vote against them when they were condemned to death. ¹¹ Many times I had them punished in the synagogues to get them to curse Jesus. I was so violently opposed to them that I even chased them down in foreign cities.

¹² “One day I was on such a mission to Damascus, armed with the authority and commission of the leading priests. ¹³ About noon, Your Majesty, as I was on the road, a light from heaven brighter than the sun shone down on me and my companions. ¹⁴ We all fell down, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is useless for you to fight against my will.’
¹⁵ “‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked.
“And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. ¹⁶ Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. Tell people that you have seen me, and tell them what I will show you in the future. ¹⁷ And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles ¹⁸ to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’
¹⁹ “And so, King Agrippa, I obeyed that vision from heaven. ²⁰ I preached first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that all must repent of their sins and turn to God—and prove they have changed by the good things they do. ²¹ Some Jews arrested me in the Temple for preaching this, and they tried to kill me.

²² But God has protected me right up to this present time so I can testify to everyone, from the least to the greatest. I teach nothing except what the prophets and Moses said would happen—²³ that the Messiah would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, and in this way announce God’s light to Jews and Gentiles alike.”

²⁴ Suddenly, Festus shouted, “Paul, you are insane. Too much study has made you crazy!”

²⁵ But Paul replied, “I am not insane, Most Excellent Festus. What I am saying is the sober truth. ²⁶ And King Agrippa knows about these things. I speak boldly, for I am sure these events are all familiar to him, for they were not done in a corner! ²⁷ King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do—”

²⁸ Agrippa interrupted him. “Do you think you can persuade me to become a Christian so quickly?”

²⁹ Paul replied, “Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that both you and everyone here in this audience might become the same as I am, except for these chains.”

³⁰ Then the king, the governor, Bernice, and all the others stood and left. ³¹ As they went out, they talked it over and agreed, “This man hasn’t done anything to deserve death or imprisonment.”

³² And Agrippa said to Festus, “He could have been set free if he hadn’t appealed to Caesar.”                       Acts 26:12–32

Paul knows his audience. Agrippa and Bernice are well aware of the accounts of Jesus of Nazareth which occurred during their childhood. They are aware of the opposition of the Pharisees and Temple authorities against The Way, and probably knew of Saul the chief persecutor of the followers of Christ.

Principle: When we have the opportunity to give our testimony, tailor the presentation to fit the audience before you, trusting that the Holy Spirit will guide you and open the hearts of your listeners.

What an opportunity! Now the Gospel has been preached to the highest levels of Roman and Jewish society in Israel. The Roman governor’s response is that Paul is insane. But Agrippa is almost convinced!

Now arrangements are made to send Paul to Rome. Notice that Luke has become part of the Roman Cruise Crew.

When the time came, we set sail for Italy. Paul and several other prisoners were placed in the custody of a Roman officer named Julius, a captain of the Imperial Regiment. ² Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was also with us. We left on a ship whose home port was Adramyttium on the northwest coast of the province of Asia; it was scheduled to make several stops at ports along the coast of the province.

³ The next day when we docked at Sidon, Julius was very kind to Paul and let him go ashore to visit with friends so they could provide for his needs. ⁴ Putting out to sea from there, we encountered strong headwinds that made it difficult to keep the ship on course, so we sailed north of Cyprus between the island and the mainland. ⁵ Keeping to the open sea, we passed along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, landing at Myra, in the province of Lycia. ⁶ There the commanding officer found an Egyptian ship from Alexandria that was bound for Italy, and he put us on board. Acts 27:1–6

Luke is very detailed in his description of their voyage. He gives us the ship’s home port, the route, the weather, and the ports. Luke’s further description of The Roman Cruise is filled with more details that testifies to the historical accuracy of not only this book of the Bible, but the other 65 as well.

They sailed slowly against contrary winds along the coast of Crete, making little progress.

⁷ We had several days of slow sailing, and after great difficulty we finally neared Cnidus. But the wind was against us, so we sailed across to Crete and along the sheltered coast of the island, past the cape of Salmone. ⁸ We struggled along the coast with great difficulty and finally arrived at Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea. ⁹ We had lost a lot of time. The weather was becoming dangerous for sea travel because it was so late in the fall, and Paul spoke to the ship’s officers about it.
¹⁰ “Men,” he said, “I believe there is trouble ahead if we go on—shipwreck, loss of cargo, and danger to our lives as well.” ¹¹ But the officer in charge of the prisoners listened more to the ship’s captain and the owner than to Paul. ¹² And since Fair Havens was an exposed harbor—a poor place to spend the winter—most of the crew wanted to go on to Phoenix, farther up the coast of Crete, and spend the winter there. Phoenix was a good harbor with only a southwest and northwest exposure.

¹³ When a light wind began blowing from the south, the sailors thought they could make it. So they pulled up anchor and sailed close to the shore of Crete. ¹⁴ But the weather changed abruptly, and a wind of typhoon strength (called a “northeaster”) burst across the island and blew us out to sea. ¹⁵ The sailors couldn’t turn the ship into the wind, so they gave up and let it run before the gale.
¹⁶ We sailed along the sheltered side of a small island named Cauda, where with great difficulty we hoisted aboard the lifeboat being towed behind us. ¹⁷ Then the sailors bound ropes around the hull of the ship to strengthen it. They were afraid of being driven across to the sandbars of Syrtis off the African coast, so they lowered the sea anchor to slow the ship and were driven before the wind.
¹⁸ The next day, as gale-force winds continued to batter the ship, the crew began throwing the cargo overboard. ¹⁹ The following day they even took some of the ship’s gear and threw it overboard. ²⁰ The terrible storm raged for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone.

²¹ No one had eaten for a long time. Finally, Paul called the crew together and said, “Men, you should have listened to me in the first place and not left Crete. You would have avoided all this damage and loss. ²² But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. ²³ For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, ²⁴ and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’ ²⁵ So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said. ²⁶ But we will be shipwrecked on an island.”

Paul reveals to the crew that an angel has told him that despite the storm, that the ship will be wrecked on an island but no one aboard the ship will perish.  All will survive.

²⁷ About midnight on the fourteenth night of the storm, as we were being driven across the Sea of Adria, the sailors sensed land was near. ²⁸ They dropped a weighted line and found that the water was 120 feet deep. But a little later they measured again and found it was only 90 feet deep. ²⁹ At this rate they were afraid we would soon be driven against the rocks along the shore, so they threw out four anchors from the back of the ship and prayed for daylight.
³⁰ Then the sailors tried to abandon the ship; they lowered the lifeboat as though they were going to put out anchors from the front of the ship. ³¹ But Paul said to the commanding officer and the soldiers, “You will all die unless the sailors stay aboard.” ³² So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and let it drift away.

Wait a minute! Paul had previously stated that an angel had told him that even though the ship would be destroyed, everyone on board will survive. Now he tells the commanding officer that if he allows the sailors to leave the ship in the lifeboat, that the soldiers and passengers will die.

Is this a contradiction?

No, it’s the expression of a Biblical principle:

God has his plan, but we must do our part for that plan to be actuated.

 Yes, God has his plans for our life, but He gives us the free will to obediently become part of that plan. Sometimes we agree with God and do what He tells us to do. Other times we hesitate and the opportunity passes, and God’s backup plan goes into action.

Principle: God will use us as much as we will allow Him to accomplish his will for all humanity and bring them into His Kingdom.

³³ Just as day was dawning, Paul urged everyone to eat. “You have been so worried that you haven’t touched food for two weeks,” he said. ³⁴ “Please eat something now for your own good. For not a hair of your heads will perish.” ³⁵ Then he took some bread, gave thanks to God before them all, and broke off a piece and ate it. ³⁶ Then everyone was encouraged and began to eat—³⁷ all 276 of us who were on board. ³⁸ After eating, the crew lightened the ship further by throwing the cargo of wheat overboard.
³⁹ When morning dawned, they didn’t recognize the coastline, but they saw a bay with a beach and wondered if they could get to shore by running the ship aground. ⁴⁰ So they cut off the anchors and left them in the sea. Then they lowered the rudders, raised the foresail, and headed toward shore. ⁴¹ But they hit a shoal and ran the ship aground too soon. The bow of the ship stuck fast, while the stern was repeatedly smashed by the force of the waves and began to break apart. Acts 27:7-41

 Now we come to a passage of Scripture that many of my friends in Hawaii consider most significant.

   When day came, they could not recognize the land; but they did observe a bay with a beach, and they resolved to drive the ship onto it if they could. And casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea while at the same time they were loosening the ropes of the rudders; and hoisting the foresail to the wind, they were heading for the beach.

But striking a reef where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground; and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern began to be broken up by the force of the waves. The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, so that none of them would swim away and escape; but the centurion, wanting to bring Paul safely through, kept them from their intention, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land, and the rest should follow, some on planks, and others on various things from the ship. And so it happened that they all were brought safely to land.  Acts 27:39–44

Surfing is a very popular sport in many places in the world. Many consider the Olympic Gold Medal swimmer Duke Kahanamoku to be the father of surfing. He was famous for using long koa wood board to ride the waves at Waikiki. Duke won three gold and two silver medals in the 1912, 1920, and 1924 Olympics. Afterward, Duke moved to Newport Beach California, and brought surfing, which was only known in Hawaii, to the mainland, and ultimately to the world. When Duke used his surfboard to rescue eight sailors from a fishing boat that capsized in heavy surf attempting to enter the city harbor, surfboards became standard equipment for lifeguards. 17 of the fishing boat’s crew perished in that event.

However, my dear friend and former roommate, Steve Nickens, who is one of the most well-known surfers on Maui, and is also known in our circles as an accurate and knowledgeable Bible scholar, claims that this shipwreck off of Malta described in Acts 27 is actually when surfing was born. It was Paul the Apostle who is the father of surfing, not The Duke.

 

 

My former roommate and surfing legend on Maui- Steve Nickens

 

Few of us can argue with Steve’s logic. It is probably because Steve is known as a scrapper, especially at his home beach Ho’okipa, where his pugilistic skills are well known to those who try to cut him off on a wave. Over the last four decades of surfing on Maui, Steve, a white boy originally from California, has earned the respect of even the mokes and titas who often yell out “Haoles! Get out of the water”, as they are paddling out, but passing Steve respectfully add, “Good morning Steve”.

 

 

 

After three months on Malta, Paul and the rest of the Roman Cruise Crew arrive in Rome.

¹⁵ The brothers and sisters in Rome had heard we were coming, and they came to meet us at the Forum on the Appian Way. Others joined us at The Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and thanked God.

¹⁶ When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to have his own private lodging, though he was guarded by a soldier.    Acts 28:15-16                                                                                       

There was a sizable Jewish population in Rome, and most lived in an area along the north side of the Tiber River. Paul invited them to his house.

²³ So a time was set, and on that day a large number of people came to Paul’s lodging. He explained and testified about the Kingdom of God and tried to persuade them about Jesus from the Scriptures. Using the law of Moses and the books of the prophets, he spoke to them from morning until evening. ²⁴ Some were persuaded by the things he said, but others did not believe. Acts 28:23–24

Thus, Paul began his ministry in Rome, which continued for at least the next two years. His testimony and teaching reached all levels of Roman society, even to the palace of Caesar! Listen to what he tells his friends in Philippi.

¹² And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. ¹³ For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. ¹⁴ And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear. Phil 1:12-14

During his time in Rome, Paul is having a very unique opportunity to give the message of the Gospel to the very highest levels of the Roman Imperial government, probably even in the palace of Caesar himself! Although Paul did not plan or even conceive how he could speak to the highest levels of Hebrew and Roaman society, God planned many unique opportunities to give his testimony during his journey to Rome.

Paul was obedient to God’s plan to bring him to Rome under less than favorable circumstances. He endured a riot, a beating, a two-year imprisonment, a dangerous voyage, and a shipwreck before getting there. Paul wanted to go to Rome, probably because of the Christian community there. God wanted him to go, but to speak to the mightiest people in Jewish and Roman society along the way.

 

Principle: God’s plan is always much bigger that our own.

Principle:  God provides unique opportunities for His ministry that we never could have dreamed of or planned.

Luke ends this incredible history with these verses:

³⁰ For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense. He welcomed all who visited him, ³¹ boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him.                                              Acts 28:30–31

 

That’s it. No more to the chapter, no more words in this Book of Acts.

I have often pondered on this rather abrupt ending to Chapter 28.

Was there a third book of a possible trilogy that didn’t survive antiquity?

Have portions of the ancient manuscripts been destroyed?

Did Luke suddenly die?

 Here is my conclusion.

I don’t think there is a missing book, but rather a missing chapter.

Chapter 29.

This is the Acts of the Apostles from that time in Rome until now.

 

Principle: We are living Acts Chapter 29 right now.

It is being written through our own lives, as well as the lives of all the saints who have preceded us, carrying on obediently since Jesus ascended to Heaven.

They have all ‘proceeded along the journey’ that they began when they received Jesus as their Lord.

They have been faithful to carry the message of the Gospel, of forgiveness of sins through Jesus’ death on the cross, of Eternal Life with Him, and of a very specific purpose to our lives here on Planet Earth.

They have effectively Made Disciples, who have brought this Message to the next generation, who faithfully took it to the next, and the next.

They have publicly proclaimed through baptism that they are followers of the Risen Christ, even when such a proclamation brought a death sentence.

They have taught their new disciples to follow the commandments that Jesus gave them, faithfully adhering to Scripture as the source of Truth and righteous living.

 They have experienced their personal adventure with God, and they are now observing us as we carry the message to this and the next generation.

A few years ago I was standing in St Peter’s Square in Rome, looking at all the statutes of the 140 saints that Gianlorenzo Bernini placed on top of the two semi-circular colonnades that surround the square. As I considered the lives of these men and women of God, I thought of this verse found in the book of Hebrews.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.      Hebrews 12:1         

 

                      

Yes!

Let nothing stop us from The Eternal Adventure that began with Christ’s Resurrection and continues through our lives today!