Do you know that the Roman chariots were built to specifications so that they would be about as wide
as the rear ends of two horses? That came out to be 4’8 ½ inches. So, what does that have to do with
anything? If you measure the width of the rails that trains run on today, you will find that they are 4’ 8
½” inches wide. I won’t bore you with a lot of details, but the width of train rails was decided by
something that was designed over 2,000 years ago. And, here is an interesting tidbit. NASA engineers
wanted to make the solid rocket boosters of the Space Shuttle a certain size, but had to downsize them
so that they could go through a train tunnel that was built for train tracks that were…4’ 8 ½” wide. Even
NASA was affected by the size of two horses’ rear ends!
We never know how our actions today will affect the future. But we do know that our actions today can
affect the future. That should make us take more seriously our responsibility to make wise and careful
decisions in every aspect of our lives. We don’t know that tomorrow holds, but we can, and will,
certainly affect the lives of people way down the road of life. That is a sobering thought; what an
awesome responsibility.
But here is the good news about that: We know a Savior that does know what tomorrow, and a
thousand tomorrows, holds and He gave us a book of instructions on how to live today so that we affect
the tomorrows in good and positive ways. We live today so that God’s will be accomplished tomorrow.
Whatever decisions are made in the future, let’s allow them to be made on a solid foundation because
we lived out our Christian life in obedience to God’s Word, not by what the world says is needed at the
moment. If the width of the rear ends of two horses affects you today, think about what a Godly life will
do for your children and grandchildren….and more.
Say good things about your Savior and His church.
as the rear ends of two horses? That came out to be 4’8 ½ inches. So, what does that have to do with
anything? If you measure the width of the rails that trains run on today, you will find that they are 4’ 8
½” inches wide. I won’t bore you with a lot of details, but the width of train rails was decided by
something that was designed over 2,000 years ago. And, here is an interesting tidbit. NASA engineers
wanted to make the solid rocket boosters of the Space Shuttle a certain size, but had to downsize them
so that they could go through a train tunnel that was built for train tracks that were…4’ 8 ½” wide. Even
NASA was affected by the size of two horses’ rear ends!
We never know how our actions today will affect the future. But we do know that our actions today can
affect the future. That should make us take more seriously our responsibility to make wise and careful
decisions in every aspect of our lives. We don’t know that tomorrow holds, but we can, and will,
certainly affect the lives of people way down the road of life. That is a sobering thought; what an
awesome responsibility.
But here is the good news about that: We know a Savior that does know what tomorrow, and a
thousand tomorrows, holds and He gave us a book of instructions on how to live today so that we affect
the tomorrows in good and positive ways. We live today so that God’s will be accomplished tomorrow.
Whatever decisions are made in the future, let’s allow them to be made on a solid foundation because
we lived out our Christian life in obedience to God’s Word, not by what the world says is needed at the
moment. If the width of the rear ends of two horses affects you today, think about what a Godly life will
do for your children and grandchildren….and more.
Say good things about your Savior and His church.