Heavenly Places??????

I've had the privilege of traveling more than the average person.  Many of those places have left me in awe:  Niagara Falls, Red Square in Moscow, the Colorado Rockies, the Vatican in Rome, the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, and changing of the guard at Arlington Cemetery--to name just a few.

Standing in the Maritime prison where Paul spent the last months and years of his life, however, is the only place that left me weeping openly. The low ceiling would not allow a person six feet tall to stand upright.  There was a rough hewn rock ledge where I could picture Paul standing to write much of the New Testament--while the sewer of Rome ran at his feet.

It was a small, dark, dismal place, with little light--yet I felt a surge of glory as I imagined the Apostle writing about sitting with Christ in Heavenly places.  His circumstances did not dictate his joy.  Was he happy to live in the stench of Rome, wondering when his head would be taken off his shoulders?  I'm sure he would have liked better accommodations. 

On the all-too-brief tour I had of Rome--the Vatican was very impressive.  The gold and fine mosaic art work was breathtaking.  Our tour guide took us to a spot in the massive structure where he assuredly told us the bones of Peter were kept enshrined.  Who am I to question if they were the actual bones of the disciple.   We saw the bodies of former popes, encrusted in gold laid out under glass.  The splendor of it all was indeed overwhelming.  And while impressed with the overpowering gold and costly artifacts...I was not moved emotionally.

But when I entered the cavernous underground prison where Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit wrote the words that comfort and strengthen us today--I wept.  I wanted to kneel and pray--not to Paul, or because of his memory; but to the only one who can give comfort and grace through every trial and trouble that life throws our way.  Paul's state--(and he tells us to be content in whatever state we find ourselves)--was much more troubling than anything we may face.  Yet, all that came from his pen were words of encouragement and admonition to "stand fast", to "Hold on to our faith".

Yes, I felt like worshiping my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  My desire is to have the kind of fellowship and communion with Him that Paul had, so I can say with him--" whether I live, or I die, I am the Lord's."  It was from that dungeon in Rome that Paul was taken and beheaded, for the sake of the Gospel.  The same Jesus who appeared to him on the road to Damascus was still a reality to him when they laid his head on the cutting stone--and he was able to face death knowing he would be in the presence of his Lord.  That is truly "sitting with Christ in Heavenly places!"

You can see the ledge here where I picture Paul writing Ephesians and other books of the New Testament. The light above the ledge is electric--Paul had no such light.  Possibly a candle by the kindness of a guard.  It is reported that they would let guards down through a hole in the ceiling to keep guard over Paul--that upon spending time with him and seeing his faith--they would accept Christ as Lord of their life.  They would then be pulled up and fed to the lions in the Colosseum.  Another guard would be lowered, and so it would be repeated over and over again.