Nimes – we found The Salvation Army right next to the Roman Arena and near the Temple to Augustus. I wish it was open when we went there. It would be great to see the kind of outreach that The Army does there. It did certainly strike me that the large cities we have seen in France, England, Scotland, Germany, Denmark, and Sweden do not have the same in-your-face homelessness and addiction that we have in Canada. I have my ideas why that is the case but we won’t go into that here today.
Nimes is an ancient city. In Nimes we saw a temple dedicated to the sons of Caesar Augustus. Do we remember who he was in the Bible? Yes – he was the Roman Emperor when Jesus was born – ruler of Rome; Nimes, Gaul; Jerusalem, Judea; and many other places. We also read references to Herod who was responsible for Caesar’s navy. We know who that was? Herod the Great was ‘King of the Jews’ when Jesus was born. That was neat to see and read.
Further we saw a Roman arena. A Roman arena is like what we think of when we think of the Colosseum. We read about the evolution of the gladiator and the myths and realities of Christians being thrown to the lions and so much more. Seeing places like these brings scriptures and history to life!
We saw a Roman aqueduct built to supply Nimes – at Point Au Guard– these things are amazing. You know what they are for. They are for carrying water great distances for people to drink and use – they are for carrying life saving water to places it wouldn’t otherwise reach.
This reminds me of the church at Laodicea in Revelation. Revelation 3:15-16: I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”
Laodicea was rich in material wealth but Laodicea lacked the good water that her neighbouring cities had: Nearby Hieropolis had great hot mineral springs and there was also the clear cold waters of Colossae but Laodicea, had poor water so water was piped to the city through crusty aqueducts. Laodicea was rich in money but poor in the water it needed to survive. Likewise, Laodicea was rich in temporal wealth but was poor in living water, which we all need to survive. If only Laodicea was spiritually as hot as the waters of Hieropolis or as cool and refreshing as the waters of Colossae that needed to be piped in to Laodicea!
Roman aqueducts, like this one outside Nimes, are amazing for carrying water great distances for people to drink and use – they carry life saving water to places it wouldn’t otherwise reach. This is a great metaphor for the great commission. You and I are to be aqueducts bringing Jesus’ living water to people who have not yet drunk of it; and letting those be refreshed who already have!
This is the final encouragement that I want to leave us with today. Last week we spoke about Jesus as the Living Water. We all need the living water that is Jesus. He can help us get through everything and anything for now and forever! He can help us and He can help our neighbours, our family, and our loved ones. He can do it in ways that none of us ever can. What we do is share the news of Jesus’ love, salvation, and living water; the same way the aqueducts were able to share the life-giving water in Nimes, Laodicea, and throughout the Roman world.
Let us pray.
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