The ancient Romans were great builders. One thing they built exceptionally well was roads. They realized the value of high quality roads and built plenty of them — over 50,000 miles of paved highways. To reach a distance of 50,000 miles, you would have to crisscross the width of the entire United States 17 times. Pretty impressive indeed! I would like to share with you some truths about these Roman roads in the hope of making some far more important points about the need of finding Christ.
The Romans Dug Deep
The Romans knew how to engineer quality roads. No superficial treatment for them! They dug deep. After the roads were marked out, legionaries using shovels and pick axes would excavate the road bed to a depth of about 30 inches. Digging deep and laying a solid foundation to the roads would protect them from buckling due to frost, being washed away in heavy rains, and would also make them exceptionally durable year after year under heavy traffic. Digging deep and laying a good foundation made it possible for some of these roads to last thousands of years. Indeed, some of the roads are still in use today.
Digging deep is important for road building, but it is also important when it comes to spiritual life. After all, each one of us is a wayfarer whose travels will end in eternity. A lot of people are making the journey through life only looking at the surface of things. They are making tracks through life without asking any deep questions like, “What is the purpose of life?” “How can a person be truly happy?” “What happens after death?” If you haven’t asked any of these questions yet, you should know that God considers it your reasonable duty to do so. He has given you a mind and He expects you to make good use of it. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you,” the Lord Jesus said (Matthew 7:77Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: (Matthew 7:7)). He didn’t say you “may find,” but “shall find.” Digging deep you will discover that God’s purpose for us is to come to know Him, that true happiness is found in loving Him, and that God desires your soul to share in the glories of heaven.
The Romans Built Straight
The Romans knew that straight roads and level roads made for the easiest travel. To mark out the roads before they were built, a Roman engineer would sight down a tool called a “groma.” This simple tool consisted of three straight sticks of wood about three feet long each. One stick was stuck into the ground so it stood upright. The other two pieces of wood intersected each other at a 90-degree angle to make a perfect “+”. Lead weights of exactly the same weight were tied by short strings to the four ends of the intersecting pieces of wood. The surveyor would balance this on top of the piece of wood sticking out of the ground. When it was balanced he could sight down the length of one of the sticks and have one of his helpers stake out exactly where the road was to be built. Using the groma, he could also get a reading on the height and depth of the road. Of course, there were plenty of times Roman roads were built to go around obstacles or follow the natural contours of the land, but whenever possible Roman roads were built remarkably straight.
John the Baptist, the prophet who immediately preceded the Lord Jesus, spoke about things getting leveled and straightened out. He said, “Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth” (Luke 3:55Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; (Luke 3:5)). This verse speaks of the coming of the Lord Jesus. The first time He came to earth, Jesus Christ came in humility and His life ended in crucifixion. The second time He comes to earth will be in glory and exaltation. At His second coming, He will judge the earth and all who live in it. Those who, by God’s grace, humble themselves in this life and look to the Lord Jesus for salvation will be filled. They will come to know God’s love, mercy and goodness in a wonderful way. Those who are proud and trust in themselves are like the mountains and hills which will be brought low. We may be brought low now by realizing how low we have fallen before God and looking to the Lord Jesus for salvation. “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else” (Isaiah 45:2222Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:22)). Or if we persist in self-sufficiency and pride, we will be brought low in the final judgment. Those who never come to repentance and faith in Christ in this life will be sent away to the low place filled with misery and sorrow called hell. “Whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder” (Matthew 21:4444And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. (Matthew 21:44)). As long as anyone is alive, it is not too late for them to humble themselves and come to the Savior of sinners.
The Romans built their roads straight and our lives should be “straight” too. The problem is we are “crooked” on the inside. From our first parents we have inherited a nature that has been ruined by the fall. As a result of disobedience, our souls are crooked before God. It is only through the Lord Jesus that grace is shown to us and that which was once so horribly crooked is straightened out. His grace brings light into the darkness of our hearts so we can see the truth about God and ourselves. Once saved, His grace helps us to overcome temptations instead of temptations constantly overcoming us. And by His grace we can avoid serious sin. None of these things is possible in our own strength. We need God’s grace. Only the One who hung on the cross and arose out of the grave on the third day shows this grace to us. “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:88For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8)). “The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” (Titus 2:11-1211For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (Titus 2:11‑12)).
The Vitae Bonum Spread via Roman Roads
The extensive system of paved roads the Romans built helped them transport goods, services, their culture, armies, and the “vitae bonum” (the good life) across the empire. The Romans had an idea of what the “good life” looked like. It consisted of living a well-ordered life with peace and temporal prosperity. Paved roads helped stimulate the local economies and brought prosperity. Knowing that a Roman legion might come marching down the road at any time helped maintain peace in outlying areas. The roads helped spread the Roman ideal of the “good life.” The problem with this Roman ideal of the “good life” is that we are not good on the inside. We are sinners. Verses from the Book of Romans in the Bible read, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Romans 3:10,1210As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (Romans 3:10)
12They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (Romans 3:12)).
A good life without dealing with the problem of sin on the inside just isn’t possible. For the problem of sin, people need the Savior of sinners. Are you looking for a “good life” without dealing with the problem of sin in your life? You are chasing after an illusion which will always escape you. You are trying to do the impossible, and if you don’t give it up, the inevitable result will be misery and anguish. “Unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile” (Romans 2:8-98But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; (Romans 2:8‑9)).
Soon after the death of Christ, the good news of a risen Savior was carried into the empire via Roman roads. This message proclaimed that the Man, Jesus Christ, had suffered death on a cross but had come back to life three days later. Boldly the disciples of the Lord went forth telling all they could that faith in Christ justifies sinners, absolves them from their sins, and makes them suitable for heaven. The Apostle Paul said, “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:38-3938Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38‑39)). When the gospel message is believed, the Holy Spirit comes to live in the believer’s heart. Then, and only then, can a person come to know lasting peace, stability, tranquility and prosperity (being rich towards God) which are results of having the Holy Spirit living in your life. The Lord Jesus has not only the “vitae bonum” or “good life” to give, but also “abundant life” and “eternal life.” He wants to give them to you! Will you repent of your sins, believe on His name and receive these precious gifts?
Rome as a monarchy, republic and empire lasted over a thousand years. But that thousand years is almost nothing compared to eternity. Don’t let pride keep you from coming to Christ. Don’t be satisfied with superficiality. Don’t be satisfied with anything less than the Christ of Calvary. He alone can satisfy you. He alone has the true good life to give.
Find more about the vital road to life in The Crookedest Street in the World.