Easter 6A - First Thoughts

Easter 6A

Acts 17:22-31
Psalm 66:8-20
1 Peter 3:13-22
John 14:15-21

There's a bit of an irony presented in this narrative about the Athenians. It appears, from Paul's sermon, that altars and idols to different gods were scattered throughout the city of Athens. Paul finds an altar dedicated "to an unknown god," and uses it to launch his gospel presentation, preaching to them that he has personal knowledge of this unknown god.

Here's the irony...all of those altars were dedicated to unknown gods. Not a single one of the gods of stone was known personally by the citizens of Athens. There were no personal relationships with Zeus or Apollo. They were merely statues of legends. Paul presents something completely new--a deity which is both infinite and personal, the God of people, like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This God desires to be in relationship with His creation, so much that He took on human form. This is a God that is knowable.

I'm forced to wonder how many self-identified Christians really know God. How many of us have simply constructed altars which we worship, instead of actually getting to know God? We know a church building, but that's not God. We know a radio preacher, but that's not God. We know a liturgy, but that's not God. We know a musical group, but they're not God. We know a program or a group of people, but that's not a substitute for knowing God. And, we even know our Bibles, but that should not be mistaken for knowing the infinite, personal God who is revealed in its pages.

How many "altars to the unknown God" have we constructed, instead of taking the time to get to know Him?

Matthew Henry writes:

After multiplying their idols to the utmost, some at Athens thought there was another god of whom they had no knowledge. And are there not many now called Christians, who are zealous in their devotions, yet the great object of their worship is to them an unknown God?

Grace and Peace,

PastorJon