“But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross
of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world
has been crucified to me, and I to the world”
– Galatians 6:14 –
A tourism company organized a three-month trip through seven countries for twenty thousand dollars, to visit the seven new wonders of the world. They were chosen in 2007, in an election by Internet with one hundred million votes at the behest of Swiss philantropist Bernard Weber. They are as follows:
- The Taj Mahal (India): jewel of Muslim art and one of the masterpieces of world herritage. It took more than twenty thousand workers to build the white marble mausoleum that houses the tomb of the then emperor’s wife. It attracts eight million visitors a year.
- The Great Wall of China: an ancient fortification built and rebuilt with the intention of protecting the northern border. It is the longest wall in the world, as it was 13,170 miles long, although only one third is perserved today. On avarage, it measures 20 to 23 feet in height and 12 to 16.5 feet in width.
- Chichen Itza (Mexico): one of the best-perserved ruins in Mayan history.
- Machu Picchu (Peru): its spectacular architectural and scenic features and the veil of mystery have made it one of the most popular tourist destinations on the planet. The monument is located on the Sacred Valley of Peru.
- Christ the Redeemer (Brazil): one of the most representative icons in South America. The statue of Jesus located at the top of Mount Corcovado has a height of 125 feet, and with open arms, can be seen from almost every corner of the city.
- The city of Petra (Jordan): the most vistited tourist attraction in the country. It is a collection of caves, temples, and tombs excavated in the rock.
- The Colliseum (Rome): the largest amphitheater ever built, an icon of Imperial Rome, the venue of gladiator contests, able to hold up to eighty thousand spactators.
However, a true wonder makes all these together pale in comparison. The sacrifice of Christ was for the apostle the center of his life and the gospel. Paul’s opponents gloried in circumcision. The world put Jesus in the most humiliating torture and death; however, the cross became the most wonderful symbol in history.
A unique wonder, and the greatest of all, is the fact that Christ
took my place and yours so that we can have access to His Throne
and a final, eternal life.
“Look in faith to the cross. Look and live.
This will be our study and song throughout eternity.”
(This Day with God, p. 176)
May the Lord be with you…