The Unknown God

The kids in my Bible class are memorizing Acts 17:22-31 this quarter.  It is one of my favorite passages.  If you’ve ever wondered who God is,  turn to Acts 17 and find out.

Paul was on his 2nd  journey and was walking through the city of Athens.  The people in this city were very devoted to worshiping their gods.  They had built many gods (idols) and worshiped them religiously.  They were so concerned that they not offend one of the gods unknowingly, they built an altar to THE UNKNOWN GOD.  Paul was asked to present his "new" ideas to the people of Athens.  He took this opportunity to introduce to them the God that they did not know — the one and only God.

Paul stood up in the Areopagus and said,

Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.  Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you.

Paul then goes on to describe the God they didn’t know to the Athenians. 

God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands, Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.

 All the gods that Paul had seen in Athens were made with men’s hands.  They were thought up in men’s minds.  They needed man to take care of them.  Without man, these gods did not exist.  But the God that we serve does not need man.  He made man.  He does not need man to build a place for Him to stay.  He does not need man to furnish Him with food.  He does not need man to keep Him company.  He does not need man for anything.  God "made the world and everything in it".  He is "Lord of heaven and earth".  What could man possibly do for God? 

I’ve heard people try to bring God down to their level.  I’ve heard people try to put themselves on God’s level.  They want to be God’s buddy.  They want to be there to comfort God.  They want to furnish God with anything He needs.  Paul told the Athenians that God doesn’t need anything that we have.  Why?  Because "He gives to all life, breath, and all things".  Without God we are nothing.   We can offer God nothing because He needs nothing.

So what should our relationship with God be?  We should tremble at His awesomeness.  We should respect the fact that He is all-knowing, all-powerful, and present everywhere.  We should fear Him so that we would never willingly sin.  Our only desire should be to be with Him, to be like Him and to be called a child of His. 

As I read about different people in the Bible that displeased God, I’m amazed that they would even consider going against His will.  Then I look at my own self and see how easy it is to think that I know what’s best.  It’s easy to forget that God gave me everything — life, breath and all things.  I must continually check myself to bring myself back to my God.  He should not and will not ever meet me half way.  I must submit all to Him, my "God, who made the world and everything in it."  He does not need me, I need Him.