Sermons Worth Stealing - Pt 12

So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. (Acts 17:22-27 ESV).

The whole of this chapter should be read even though I’ve selected just a part of Paul’s sermon at the Areopagus in Athens, Greece. It is obvious that Paul was not impressed with the spirituality of the Atheneans. It seemed like every family had their own god who they serve. All the area was filled with different shrines with the name of various gods written on the altars. Observant enough for Paul, he was able to see a shrine on which altar "To an unknown god" was the inscription. It was fair enough for the people of Athens to have forgotten the names of some gods in that generation, since it was the citadel of several many Greek gods at that time. But it was funny that some of them still worshipped and dedicated a shrine to an unknown god. Paul immediately gathered the Jews and Gentiles he could meet within the short moment of his arrival to discourage them from the act of idol worshipping. Some market women joined him to hear about the "new God" he was introducing to them. Some of the councilors (the Epicureans) of Areopagus where Religion and Education matters are being discussed saw Paul talking about a strange God and brought him to the council to hear more about the god he brought; but they were disillusioned when they were told of the God who doesn't dwell in manmade sanctuaries. Just as the people of Athens were engrossed and in love with their many small gods, our culture seems to be in love with ours. We have turned to money, science, or technology for answers to our quests. We've failed to bear in mind that there is a God who was not created by humans, but Himself is the creator of all things. We run after these things in pursuit of happiness and peace which only Jesus can give. The same message of Paul should be applied today. The Lord is searching for us through this same Gospel. Perhaps it is time for us to retrace our steps to Christ who is the author and finisher of our faith.