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. 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.’
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.”
Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” Acts 17:22-32
Obviously Luke stood in the crowd taking notes. When you read the scriptures is the Holy Spirit showing you and explaining to you what you are reading? How exactly is the un-believer reached with the Gospel of Jesus Christ? By the revelation of the Holy Spirit to the heart of the individual. The Holy Spirit highlights the Truth to the hearer. Just as those people standing in that crowd listening to Paul — they had a choice to listen to that ‘witness’ speaking to their hearts, or dismiss that inner ‘Voice’ of the Holy Spirit speaking in their minds. Some may already have had other voices in their minds telling them to not listen.
We also must decide if we want to listen to the small gentle Voice of the Holy Spirit within us. I am reminded daily that my breath and life is because of His grace and power, just as Paul told those Greeks thousands of years ago. To the Kingdom of Heaven a Man’s earthly life is but minutes, like a puff of smoke. Our bodies are way more fragile and subject to chaos and death than we understand. As we get older the effects of decay and Adam’s curse are more and more evident to us, and our spirit longs for the reunion with our Maker. But as Paul said to those listening … God determines our time and place … so that we should seek Him .. and find Him. God is NOT far from us, in fact we can’t escape Him. We can only deny Him. But then God … calls all of us to … repent. This repentance becomes a growing knowing in our hearts .. and eventually it becomes a .. lifestyle we live before Him. Man’s struggle is with the power He has given us .. to choose. Because of this power of ‘choice’ we want to remain in control. This struggle remains deep within us as long as we sit in this earthly atmosphere. Yet… the Holy Spirit asks us to … yield and submit to Him.
Our life is .. short. Bow your knee today to Him. Eventually everyone will have to do it. You might as well do it out of … love and gratefulness. Real genuine humility is greatly honored by God.
Heavenly Father ….we need you so…..