“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord…will award to me on that day.”  2 Timothy 4:7-8

 Take a tour with me through modern day Rome and what do we see?  There is little evidence of true Christianity amid all the splendor of the Vatican and the glories that were once Rome.  There is only one evangelical church in the city.  Few people attend the big cathedrals built on the backs of poor people trying to “earn” their way to heaven.  The magnificent cathedrals built to Christianity have become museums with works of art worth billions of dollars.

Paul would have been comfortable in the catacombs underneath the city where Christians hid during times of persecution.  Today, you can see the places in the walls where Christians buried their dead.  There are pictures drawn of shepherds, fish, lambs and an X sign representing the alpha and omega.  There are no crosses.  The early Christians hated the sign of the cross because it reminded them of their Savior’s death.  It’s dark and damp with many hallways extending in all directions.  It would be easy to get lost.  It’s a holy place.  The Christian faith is strong here.  These people were willing to give their lives for the sake of the gospel.

The Vatican and the Coliseum come next, but I don’t think Paul would have been comfortable in either place.  The Vatican was brimming with priceless oil paintings, statuary, gold and every imaginable work of man.  The Coliseum was financed with the gold taken from the Temple in Jerusalem in AD 70.  When Titus conquered Jerusalem, he burned the city, taking the gold that melted and ran down the great stones of the Temple. He came home a hero, the Arch of Titus was built in his honor and so was the Coliseum.

The spirit of Paul accompanied us for a short walk through the Forum to the Mamertine Prison.  In this damp, smelly dungeon, Paul spent the final months of his life.  From here, he wrote his final epistle to his much loved son in the faith, Timothy.  Paul knew he was finishing the race and his life would soon be over.  Emperor Nero accused the Christians of setting fire to Rome, even though there is evidence that he was responsible. It was a good excuse to murder more followers of Christ.   There is a round grill in the floor that could be opened and food thrown down to the prisoners.  The prison system did not supply food, prisoners were fed by friends who risked their lives to help them.  Caesar’s palace can be seen on the hill overlooking the Mamertine prison.  The Word of God penetrated the palace and many believers were found among them. “All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.” Philippians 4:22

Paul’s final stop would have been outside the city walls to his place of execution.  Tre Fontane is a peaceful place.  There is a small prison where prisoners were kept overnight.  Early morning would find Paul walking the stone pavement to the spot where he was beheaded.  Since he was a Roman citizen, the execution was swift.  As my daughter and I walked along, she turned to me and said, “I think Paul was overcome with joy at the prospect of seeing Jesus.”  What a moment of victory!  “…Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.  For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”  Philippians 1:20-21.

Your friend, Jean