McDonald’s is a symbol of happiness when we think of our kids tearing into their Happy Meals, devouring its contents, and playing with the toy inside. There are also the burgers, chocolate shakes and warm salty fries that will put a smile on our face. Who wouldn’t be happy walking into a McDonalds?
With this said, there is a McDonald’s in Frattocchie, Italy that is like none other. It is part fast food and part museum. As the foundations of the restaurant were being laid it was discovered that a Roman road lay underneath. Wanting to preserve the road, they decided to build over it. As you walk into the restaurant, there is a glass floor where you can look down and see the ancient cobblestone road. So, as you are ordering your Big Mac you can look down and take in some Roman history as well. The space between the road beneath and the store above is big enough for there to be guided tours. (I’m not sure if you can eat in the museum part.)
Interestingly, as they were excavating the Roman road, they uncovered three bodies. Presumably, they were bodies of slaves who could endure no more and upon their death, their bodies were thrown in the gutter and pavement stones were placed over them. The stones have been removed and you can see the actual skeletons in the same position they were left over 2,000 years ago. So, as you are sipping on your shake and munching your fries you can look down on skeletons. (What a mixture of the ancient and the modern; the joy of today and the gruesomeness of the past.)
Spiritually speaking, we as Christians need to make sure we do not become like that. What I am saying is that we need to be careful that we do not look good and righteous on the outside but in truth are filled up with unrighteousness and deceit on the inside.
Jesus addressed this very idea when He scolded the Jews in Matthew 23. There He said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness” (23:27-28). Virtually the entire chapter is dedicated to Jesus spotlighting their hypocrisy. These scribes and Pharisees, who knew the law inside and out, looked good outwardly but inside were worse than those to whom they preached.
Paul addressed this same mindset in Romans 2:21-23; there he said, “You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law?” Paul concluded his thought by saying, “For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you” (2:24).
This should never be the mindset or lifestyle of the Christian. Contrary to a life of hypocrisy, Christians ought to live a life of integrity and sincerity. Paul said in Colossians 3:22, “Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.” Though Paul is speaking directly to bondservants, should not all Christians serve with sincerity of heart? The word “sincerity” is also translated “singleness.” It is akin to our idea of integrity. As Christians, though we are not perfect, we must strive to “practice what we preach.” We must endeavor in every aspect of our lives to emulate the Christ who is the Redeemer of our lives and the Savior of the world. To willfully fall short of this goal, like the scribes and Pharisees, is to manifest a seed of ungodliness that may one day rob us of our place in the Lamb’s book of Life.
Let us always manifest a spirit of integrity and singleness of heart in our Christian lives. To be like Christ is our greatest goal. This is the only way we can be saved as well as bring others to know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
If you would like to know more about God and His Son Jesus, please let us know.
Roy Knight