The Unknown God
The Apostle Paul went to Athens to proclaim Christ. Knowing that the people of Athens would gather at the Areopagus (a prominent hill in the city) to discuss philosophy and theology, he knew he would find an audience there.
Along the way, he witnessed many objects of the Athenians religious devotions, but one in particular stood as a testament that all of their religious devotions were in vain.
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.
Acts 17:22-25
Rather than many gods, each with their own specialties and purpose, Paul was bringing them the true God by whom all things which have been created were made. Such a God, unlike the gods of the Athenians needs nothing and cannot be found in the works of human hands.
Despite this people spreading their devotion around in many directions and worshipping in many ways, they had failed to know the true God because they sought their gods in their own inventions.
Times of Ignorance
In this, the people of Athens were not alone. Mankind has eternity written on our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11) yet apart from divine revelation this longing for things beyond our short walk in this passing life is beyond us. Mankind has been divided into many different nations, tribes, and peoples since Babel (Genesis 11:8).
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. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’
Acts 17:26-28
All of these people, having some sense of matters beyond this life, have sought after God in various ways and God was ordering their steps even when they did not know it. Yet, he had often chosen to reveal himself only to some peoples at specific times (most especially the people of ancient Israel).
Yet despite these people failing to seek God rightly, they were allowed to persist in their ignorance through all of human history until Christ. Though they worshipped images of their own creation rather than seeking a God who made them in his image, he did not judge them as to wipe them out for this. Yet that time of allowable ignorance had past.
Repentance Time
Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
Acts 17:29-31
God’s offer of reconciliation is no longer a future event foreshadowed by revelations given only to a particular people. Jesus humbled himself and became man that he could suffer the death which were the wages of the sins of man and took up his life again as a promise of eternal life to those whom he is saving.
While we still live in a time where the God appointed boundaries of peoples and tribes persist, those boundaries are no longer justification for ignorance. The Gospel of Jesus Christ has gone out into the world and is preached on every continent and among nearly all peoples.
The time when ignorance was excused had come to an end. We live thousands of years after the resurrection of Christ. There are no more excuses and there is a coming judgement. Only in the righteousness of Jesus can a man find salvation, for all have sinned.
I urge all of mankind to seek Jesus wherever you may find him. If you feel the weight of your sin and fear the coming judgement, than know that he has already made a way for all to be free of that sin! If you’re reading this, you have the internet and there are no end to resources, but nearly every corner of the Earth now has believers. Seek fellowship where you can find it!
