I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
Revelation 2:13
A Christian without trials would be like a mill without wind or water. What place should we have for patience, meekness, readiness to forgive, if we had nothing to try us? -John Newton
The catacombs underneath Rome is where the first Christians buried their dead and held their worship services. It was a network of tunnels that hid them in 1AD-5AD from the Roman authorities. The tunnels are filled with early Christian symbols of lives persecuted for what they believed and were willing to die for. Among the dead martyrs bodies are many stories. Some untold, only known by God, others we have the honor of knowing. Here is one such story.
In the catacombs, one day, this Christian who had been sobbing in great sorrow for the loss of his wife went underground to the catacombs. In search of comfort for his aching heart. He walked down the descending stairs with each step heavy. Stopping at the bottom of the stairs he wrote on the wall. He left a message for his beloved wife. Wishing her now a joyful life.
"Sofronia vivas cum tuis"(Oh, Sophronia, may you live with your dear ones).
Traveling on past the stairs, he pauses for a moment. He thinks of her and her new life with our Lord. This time with a shaking hand he scribbles her name. With tears in his eyes he writes his message:
"Sofronia, vivas in Domino" (Oh, Sophronia, may you live in the Lord).
With each step his faith grows stronger that he will see her again. His heart beats faster as he pauses once again. This time in a cubicle on the side of an arcosolium. His hand more steadier, he writes his note:
"Sofronia dulcis, semper vives in Deo" (O sweet Sophronia, you will live forever in God).
At last, he has found him a place to rest. Crying so bitterly along the way, his eyes have become reddened. He doesn't cry for her. But, for himself does he weep. Awaiting for the glorious day, when he shall join her. Hope now springs up in him like a gushing fountain. Love overflows from his heart and he writes now with blessed assurance of the resurrection promised by our Savior:
"Sofronia, vives..." (Yes, Sophronia, you will live).
It is a wonderful expression of human love transcended from this world to the next life. The love they shared for each other and for Christ would continue on. It's a love story of believers. Their assurance that they will see each other again. And his devotion to her and Jesus is truly moving. He acknowledges where both his true loves lie. And he knows and believes that the Lamb has made a way for him to see her once again.
By Lance Gargus
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