soul monuments
We were privileged and awed to visit Rome for our 36th wedding anniversary. There were too many fascinating relics to take in! I had studied a bit about layers of ruins in Rome but there was one that captured my interest and intrigued me most.
This monument was constructed in 82 AD by the Roman emperor Domitian shortly after the death of his older brother Titus to deify him and commemorate his victories, including the siege of Jerusalem in 70AD, which marked a major turning point in Jewish history. The Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the temple, carrying away all the temple treasure. This scene is depicted on the inner arch of the monument in a haunting, gloating image. There you see the triumphant march of the victors carrying the precious gold and silver furnishings that were used in the service of the God of Israel, paraded out in enemies’ hands!
How do you explain that? Where is God?
The first century Roman empire was a rough place to live for Jews and even rougher for Jewish Christians. Not only did the Romans oppress them, their own Jewish families and friends couldn’t understand them. They would have taunted, “Give up this cult and come back to your tradition. Fight with us against the Romans!”
Talk about deconstruction of faith! This was only a few decades after Jesus rose from the dead, inaugurating the new covenant. He had predicted this very event. (Matthew 24:1,2) Along with the holy things carried away were thousands of Jewish slaves who were used to build the Colosseum in Rome about the same time the arch was constructed. In the Colosseum many early Christians were martyred or crucified as entertainment. The Jews, for years after this, had to pay homage to Rome at the arch of Titus. Can you imagine? Your worst defeat and devastation being smeared in your face by your enemies?!
What they had hoped in outwardly, like a good luck charm, was entirely dashed. They had lost the heart connection and forsaken God himself, while keeping the outward appearances of worship. God’s New Way (Hebrews 10:20) had come and they didn’t recognize or want it. How disillusioning for the Jewish people and confusing for the new followers of Jesus.
So, imagine your hope, the thing you counted on, the stable factor of your life is wiped out. How do you handle that?
Most of us have disillusionment in our lives. We can look back on something we hoped in, counted on and deeply believed. Then saw it fail, thrown away, trampled or dismissed. And just like the Jews in the time of this historical event when the Emperor took over, we feel abandoned and violated.
Do you have an arch of Titus in your life? Where disillusionment, deconstruction wants to thrust you away from the One who’s trying to get your attention? While the Roman world-power gloated at the deconstruction of Judaism, God had much greater things in mind for His people. An entirely new way that was much superior to the old way.
What greater things might He have in mind for you?
At the monuments of defeat or disillusionment in our lives, can we turn our affections back to God himself and not what we thought He was or thought He said? Can we lift our eyes above the rubble and hear a still, small voice inviting us to something more?