April 27, 2022 – Wednesday
Acts 17:30 NIV
30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.
Comment.
The apostle Paul is in Athens, Greece, a city full of idols – even an altar with the inscription TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. He preached in the synagogue to Jews and God-fearing Greeks alike as well as in the marketplace (he was a street preacher) to anyone who would listen. A group of philosophers began to debate with him while he was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection (v18).
This group of philosophers took Paul to the Areopagus, also known as Mars Hill, where a council of men were to hear what Paul was preaching. After his introductory remarks (v22-27), Paul said, 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill.
That’s when he stated, In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. What is Paul saying here? Simply put, God considered the limits of their knowledge about God in the past. However, now that they know the truth about God their Creator, how His Son died for the sins of mankind, and was resurrected from the dead, things are different and they (everyone) is called upon to repent of their sins. Idols were no longer going to be tolerated by God.
Paul concluded by saying v31, For He (God) has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead. Some sneered at the idea of the resurrection of the dead, but some became followers of Paul and believed. That surprised me as these people were used to hearing all kinds of ideas, stories, philosophies, etc. and yet somehow some were convinced of the validity of what Paul had shared with them.
There is a lesson there for all of us. We should not be afraid (or ashamed) to share the Good News of Jesus and Jesus crucified. Sure, some people will sneer at us, and some will even ridicule us, but some will hear the truth and it will resonate within them. There are so many lies being told today and so much evil being promoted*, people are hungry to hear something they know deep down is the truth.
Today there are a myriad of idols being promoted all around us, all of them excluding God. Sports on tops of sports, material things – cars, houses, clothes, jewelry, etc. – sex of all sorts, self and more of self. Anything but God and appreciation of all He has created, from a blade of grass to sunrises and sunsets, the sound of birds awakening in the morning. Even the cool caress of a breeze on a hot day. God is there all the time if we would but open our eyes and our hearts to Him. Once we do, then we see His love in Jesus coming for our salvation.
Bottom Line: Judgment is coming and God wants us to know, so we can prepare for it by seeking His Son, Jesus Christ for salvation,
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your wonderful creation that surrounds us. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek
*An example of the evil being promoted is found here. Be aware.