Okay, for those of you who don't know, I'm currently studying in Greece to finish out my last semester of college! I'm seriously living out one of my dreams. Our campus is located just a few minutes outside of Athens, and with the exception of the rain and cold weather, things couldnt be better. I've been able to see things that most people will only ever get to dream of seeing in person. From the Parthenon and other temples at the Acropolis to the Areopagus (Mars Hill) where Paul the Apostle spoke, I've had mind blowing experiences within the mere 7 days that I've spent here so far. You guys… I'm in Athens. The only city that is older than Athens and has truly maintained inhabitants since the day it was founded is Damascus. These are the same cities that we've read about in the Bible!! Its SO COOOOOL!!!!
So, as I said earlier, we were able to visit Mars Hill. The exact same Mars Hill that Paul spoke on that we read about today in Acts 17. Here's a snapshot so you can get a mental image:
We climbed up that rock, found a spot to sit, then listened intently as our professor read Paul's speech directly from scripture. Wow. I mean seriously… WOW. Think about it for just a second. About 2,000 years ago, Paul was standing RIGHT THERE on that rock speaking passionately about my God to the most scholarly of the pagans.
Let me set up the background for this situation really quick. Paul had just arrived at Athens while on his second missionary journey. He had been walking through the town of Athens looking around to see all the pagan temples and statues that were devoted to their many gods. The SAME statues and temples that we can see remnants of today. The same ones that I've seen!
Acts 17:16 says "Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols."
His spirit was PROVOKED. So what did Paul do? He took action.
Acts 17:17-18 "So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. 18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection."
So what happens next is that the elite scholars and philosophers of Athens then ask Paul to meet them at the Areopagus (that big rock in the picture up there ^^^). This is where the supreme court of Athens would typically have all meetings of any importance.
Okay, so at this point, Paul has officially made himself vulnerable. He's literally about to speak to the top dogs in Athens about this "new teaching" of his. And he's got one shot with them or else he'll be ridiculed all the way out of town.
Then he does it… he proclaims the Word of God with an unbreakable confidence.
So bear with me now. Here's what he says next:
“Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 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?? They had altars to the UNKNOWN gods!? You wanna know why? One of the theories is that they had so many gods, that JUST IN CASE they left one out, they wanted to make sure they had an altar for him too!
Then Paul tells them straight up…
"What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 26 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, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him."
You know your unknown gods?? Yeah, well umm.. my God, He made everything. He never needed us as humans to set up some temples and carved images. He was just fine without us. But he chose to create us. And create us in HIS image! Do you have any one god that did all that? I didn't think so.
I can't even begin to imagine how awful it would be to have to worship an unknown god that I knew nothing about… He may not even exist! But thats not the case for us! GOD MADE HIMSELF KNOWN TO US!! He desires to have a RELATIONSHIP with us! He gave his Son to die so that we could live with him forever!! I'm not sure about you, but I've never studied about a pagan god that had that type of agenda!
Anywho… this semester in Greece is truly bringing the Bible into new perspective for me. Everywhere I go, scripture is coming to life. Paul isn't just a character in the Bible anymore. He was real. He sacrificed his pride and risked his life SO many times for what he believed in! My experience on Mars Hill will forever be with me. It will always serve as a means of encouragement and as a reminder to the fact that my God will never put any obstacle in my way that I can't overcome with Him by my side.
If Paul could speak to the nations… so can I.
