I'm in the process of writing an article that has gotten a little longer than I anticipated it would be. But this morning (up at 2:00 a.m.) my wife and I took our daughter to the airport for her College trip to Greece. She will be there until next Saturday and will be doing both classroom work and seeing some historical sights. She will be in Athens, where she will visit the Acropolis, and will also go to Corinth and Andros Island while she is there. There is so much Church history from this part of the world. Her trip has reminded me of one of my favorite portions of scripture; the Apostle Paul's coming to Athens from Berea.
In the 17th Chapter of the Book of Acts, in response to his preaching of the gospel, we find the apostle Paul leaving Thessalonica after the Jews had become jealous and enlisted the help of some "wicked men from the marketplace" to form a mob and cause a riot in the city. Paul and Silas were sent off to Berea where they also proclaimed the word of God. We are told that when the Jews in Thessalonica heard that Paul was in Berea preaching the word, they came there also, agitating and stirring up the people as they had in Thessalonica. Paul was then escorted away to Athens while Silas and Timothy remained behind. Paul had sent word back with those who had escorted him, for Timothy and Silas to come to Athens as soon as possible.
But for a time, Paul had found himself alone in Athens. In verse 16 we are told that Paul's "spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols". In the following verses we find Paul preaching Christ to the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles in the synagogue and every day with whoever happened to be present in the market place. When some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him, some were reported as saying, "What would this idle babbler wish to say?" In verse 20 we are given some insight into the Athenians and the people who visited there. We are told that they used to spend their time in nothing other than telling and hearing something new. They considered the things that Paul was saying to be strange to their ears and they asked to hear more of what it meant. What was "strange", was that Paul spoke with power as he proclaimed the truth of Jesus and the resurrection. In verses 22-31 we see Paul delivering his famous message from the midst of the Areopagus.
"Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, 'TO AN UNKNOWN GOD' Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His children.' "Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man. "Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead."
This "idle babbler" wished to tell them about the "UNKNOWN GOD", to call them to repentance and share with them the truth of God's only begotten Son, Jesus. No different than today, some sneered at his message and some believed.
I know that it has been many years since Paul walked in the land of Athens and Corinth. But I pray that my daughter might be blessed in her relationship with the Savior as God uses this place of great Church history to deepen each student's understanding and appreciation for those who served the Lord there. God was working in and through them in a mighty way. In serving Christ, they served all who have come after them. I would ask that you pray for her safety and for the safety of the other students and professors. May they each grow closer to the Savior through this learning experience.
Father, I thank You for those who have served before us. For Paul, Timothy, Silas and so many others, whose lives were instrumental as You established Your Church. As we speak the truth and proclaim the Gospel of Your Son and the truth of the resurrection, help us not to be intimidated or discouraged if others may consider us or even call us "idle babblers".
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Several weeks ago during an evening service, my pastor compared non-believers to the black firmament of night, and sincere believers in Christ to the bright shining stars that God placed there upon. He was pointing out that there exists a small subset within the vast expanse of the human race that beams forth the Eternal Love of our Savior, Jesus Christ. For my wife, Diane, and me, the traveling daughter mentioned in this weeks Blog, “In the Steps of an Idle Babbler,” is one of those tiny twinkling points of light.
You see, my wife and, to a much lesser degree, I have been ill for several months now and one of God’s precious little birds told us that this wonderful young lady has kept a prayer vigil for us during the entire time. My wife and I have never even had a conversation with this young adult Christian, but what a tremendous blessing and an encouragement she is to us …and what a faithful example she sets for believers everywhere. It is my pleasure to say a prayer for this traveler, her classmates and their professors.
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Great Grace and Your beloved Son, and for His completed redeeming work on the Cross for our salvation. Thank you for bringing us to this place, and for placing so many wonderful people, like Miss Engebretson, in our lives. And Father, please watch over and keep Justina, her professors and classmates safe during this one-week trip so far from home. Guide them in this opportunity for historical enrichment and appreciation for those servants who came before them, and draw them ever closer to a true knowledge and understanding of You, Lord – Amen.
Bob
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