Romans or... Prehistoric Fiber Optics

We often hear talk of Rome and its greatness.  Usually it's this black & white conversation and you hear it in two parts.  First you hear about what a huge empire Rome was and how great it was.  Usually we hear this part just to preface to the second part, which is the brief story of its downfall.

So often we parallel Rome to the United States today.  We focus on the excesses, the political corruption, the focus on possessions, money, beauty, and "The Life".  God's word calls it "mammon".  Just for a minute though, look beyond
the political corruption, the excesses, the sex, the violence, the free handouts and a society enslaved to themselves and their leaders.  Take all that away.  What are you left with?  I think you would be left with possibly the most sophisticated communications network known to man.

You can do the same thing to the United States and our present situation.  Take away the greed, political ethos, robber barrons, media moguls, sex, violence, drugs and essentially everything that gives you a negative image.  What are you left with?  Again, the most sophisticated communications network known to man.

So what was so special about Rome?  Why didn't other great civilizations become the backbone to usher in Christ and spread the good news?  In my mind its simple.  For the first time in history, the largest communications network had been developed.  Roads, and safe roads at that, could carry news and information farther, faster, and with greater efficiency than any other time in history.  Populations could flourish.  Cities could grow.  People could COMMUNICATE ACROSS BARRIERS!!!

The prehistoric Fiber Optic wires were being lain.

And here we are right now, with satellite television, global Internet, global commerce, even global government.  It truly is the NOW Network, on a global scale.  Rome was the sandbox, the playground.  Rome had expensive, slave built roads.  The United States has CHEAPLY BUILT, HIGHLY SECURE, WELL-LIT roads, capable of getting a traveler from a rural country starting point in every area of the country to an ending point on the opposite side.  Those roads and rails (all 4,183,463 miles of them) are also the backbone of our technologically sophisticated communications network.

 Rome taught the world about roads.  America taught the world how to build them ON THE CHEAP!

Don't you think it was God's design to produce the most highly sophisticated travel and communications network known to man?  In order to speed up the process of His return and get the world ready for His judgement?  But not only that, and not just to that end.  With 6.9 Billion people on the earth, there's a lot more souls to win for the Kingdom of Christ.  There is much work to be done.  The population explosion means that bringing the message to people all over the world is a tremendous job.

Was America designed to lead the way?  Is she accomplishing the mission set before her with energy and great anticipation of the rewards to come, or is she shrinking from her task?

-Dan.