An Unknown God

       
       As he walked the streets of Athens, Paul became upset.  The whole city was full of idols.  Everywhere he turned an altar was set up for yet another god.   
      What was Paul to do?  He was alone in a strange town full of  unfamiliar people.  Their ways were foreign to him and they worshiped strange unfamiliar gods.  
       Well, Paul did what he always did in a new town.  He taught and preached Jesus.  In the synagogue, he talked with the Jews and devout Greeks who believed in God.  He also went to the marketplace every day and spoke to whoever happened to be there.  
      Now the Athenians loved to hear about new things.  Some of them spent their time doing nothing else.  What Paul said was surely strange to them.  They had never heard of Christ and the resurrection.  
      So they took Paul to the Aeropagus where he had an even bigger audience.  Here he had the ear of the most noble men in the city - the judicial council of Athens.  What a great opportunity to speak of God and His Son! 
       They asked Paul about the strange teaching he was presenting.  They wanted to know what these new ideas meant.  Here is when Paul begins to tell them about the God they did not know.  
      This beautiful sermon is recorded in Acts 17:22-31.  As we see in verses 32- 34, Paul's words were met with mixed reactions.  The same is true anytime God's word is taught.  Not everyone is willing to acknowledge the Truth when they hear it.  
      For time's sake, we will not go through Paul's entire sermon;  but he uses the city's idolatry and the altar to "an unknown god" as a springboard for telling his audience about the One True and Living God.  He explains God is not made with hands but instead we all come from Him.  He made us all.  
      Can you imagine what Paul would think today if he walked the streets of Anytown, USA?  Would he see altars to all sorts of gods?  Would he be upset about idolatry here? No?   Are you sure?  
      Mmmm..... let's think about this a minute.  What would he see?  Well he would see televisions in many homes.  He would see universities -"institutions of higher learning."  He would see folks sitting in front of computers or holding technology in their hands.  He would watch them engrossed in playing the newest video game. 
      Would Paul see idolatry here?  Would he see huge sports stadiums in major towns and ball fields all over the country?  Would he see parents rushing to and fro to get their children to said ball fields for practice or weekend tournaments?  We know this isn't idolatry in the same sense the Athenians practiced it.  But ....
       Long ago Paul told the Athenians about a God they did not know.  But how many of us truly know God here and now?  Oh, perhaps we worship with others on Sunday morning.  Perhaps we sing His praises in buildings throughout the country.  But do we really know our God -
or do we simply pretend to know Him?
     Do we sometimes go through the routine of worship while our mind wanders aimlessly to just about anything else under the sun?  How often do we take the time to acknowledge we ALL come from Him?  Do we race through our busy lives and think only of God in passing?  
     There is a difference between knowing who God is and knowing God.  Our Heavenly Father wants both.  He is our Creator -- He is all knowing and all powerful.  Scripture tells us who God is.  Our faith is built upon this premise. 
      Knowing God comes through spending time with Him.  This means willingly bringing Him into our lives  --seeking Him through prayer.  When we know God, we realize His goodness and recognize the blessings He bestows on us. 
       Paul told the Athenians God is not something made with hands.  The Lord doesn't live in man made temples.  Just because we don't live in Athens in the first century, doesn't mean we don't have temples.  Think about that.   
      I am not saying anything is wrong with television or ballgames or higher education, or even our technological toys.  We all know that.  I am saying we should be very careful.  Sometimes we put things "made" ahead of the One  who made all things.  I think this is a battle most of us fight from time to time. 
      It is such an easy trap to fall into.  Remember though, the devil doesn't care who or what we put first in our lives as long as it is not God.  That dark liar gives us plenty to choose from.  The result is all the same.  They will all render the same eternal consequence. 
      The Heavenly Father does care.  In fact, He is pretty adamant.  God wants us to put Him first.  With the Lord there is only one choice.  It takes love, faith, courage and self-discipline to follow through.  The result?  The result is so much more glorious than anything we could ever imagine!
     Do we know God?  Or do we sometimes have so many other "gods" that the Living God becomes unknown to us?  Yes, it is true nothing is wrong with any of the things I mentioned earlier.  However we should all remember--
the only way to make sure we find God wherever we go is if we take Him there.   

Christ above all things, 
Robin