The Ruins of the Past
Acts 17:22–32 (ESV): 22 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “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 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. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, 28 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.’
29 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. 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 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.” 32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.”
On our latest vacation our family had the opportunity to walk through the ruins of Pompeii. This vacation spot for the Romans is near Naples, Italy. Preserved from the explosion of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD by 20 feet of volcanic ash is a well preserved city dating back 2000 years from the past. While walking the ruins I was amazed at the beauty of the city. This prized possession of the Roman Empire boasting 20,000 inhabitants eventually came to an abrupt end.
I was reminded of this passage from St. Paul about Athens and the temples set up to their gods. Paul reminds the people that the true God who made the world made us and positioned us in a certain time and place that we might seek him and reach out to him. Yet like the residents of Pompeii we seek out our own interests and worship ourselves in what we build and prize in life.
One day there comes a reckoning. There is an immovable force like a volcano or the earthquake that took place in Venezuela in which all our accomplishments and idols that we built by our own hands no longer matter. On that day, where will you place your hope? St. Paul reminds us that God is not far from us. Instead, it is our hearts that are far from him. If everything you have was stripped away from you today would you still serve him?
All our stuff is still stuff and one day sits in a landfill. Even the greatest of people simply become memories of the past. Our stuff are simply landmarks to a past time. There is a life to be lived beyond our prized possessions and it lies in a life lived with Christ. He is not far from you if you are willing to seek and step out in faith. Believe you were made for this moment and this time to live a life not in the collection of items but in knowing the Savior Jesus Christ and his life to become your life.
Pastor Aaron
Executive Pastor