“The Solace For Our Restless Hearts!”(Acts 17:22-34).
We began this week with the strong emphasis: “acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is the God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other”(Dt.4:39). We continued the week highlighting the Supremacy and Sovereignty of God, his Omniscience, Omnipotence and Omnipresence.
As we close the week Paul highlights this by telling the Athenians and us that “the God who made the world and everything in it is the LORD of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands…” He is a personal Creator, contrary to pantheistic Stoicism.
All humanity came from one man, so wherever people are settled, they are one family. Wherever people settled and whenever that happened was planned by him.
God is the Designer and did not leave things to Chance as the Epicureans thought.
God was not a complete stranger to the Athenians nor to us. Greek poets talked about him as Paul cites lines from two or three of them.
God had hoped that “men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.” Sadly, the Athenians sought him through man-made gods and philosophy. We still do it today!
In the past, God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he 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.”
We note that all along Paul is talking about God the Creator, Designer, and Patterner of the world. He is known everywhere; even if people try to reach him through ignorant ways.
It is only at this point that Paul introduces the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ through whom he will judge the world with justice. Even so, he does not mention the name.
There were three responses to Paul’s message:
- Some “sneered” when he mentioned the resurrection. They believed in the immortality of the soul but not resurrection.
- Some said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”
- “A few men became followers of Paul and believed.”
The good news is never received with open hearts by all who hear it. There are the sneerers, the procrastinators, and the few who believe. But we never can tire of proclaiming it by word and deed. There is hope of conversion for the procrastinators. They only seek clarity. When clarified, they would become.
My friend, we are nothing without the Saviour and Redeemer, “For in him we live and move and have our being.” I him we find Solace for our restless souls!
Weekend prayer: Holy Spirit, guide us daily to see the hand of the LORD as he guides and directs our paths. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.
17/05/2025.