>*"God's hand never slips."*
[**- Billy Graham -**](http://www.azquotes.com/quote/954242)

<H3>This morning I read a supremely stirring sermon.</H3>

"Why should I care?" you may ask, especially if you have a "typical" worldview.

If there's one thing I've found here on Steemit, it's that people are open, interactive, and not afraid to listen to new ideas. And so I hope you may be willing to invest five minutes to hear this oration, originally aimed at [**ancient Athenians**](https://www.ancient.eu/Athens/) who loved hearing and telling about new things.
<a href="rebrand.ly/3d97">
  <img src="https://source.unsplash.com/-zoe4nviem4" alt="Table of Contents" style="border:0;" width="100%;">
</a><H6>Ruins in Athens, Greece<BR>Image courtesy of [Arthur Yeti](https://unsplash.com/@arthuryeti) and [http://unsplash.com](http://unsplash.com)</H6>

<H3>Paul had been the greatest enemy of Jesus' followers.</H3>

However, after a personal encounter with Christ, he became Jesus' greatest champion. He traveled the Roman world passing along the good news about Jesus.

Usually, Paul traveled with one or more co-workers. However, circumstances had him in Athens waiting for his colleagues to arrive. While waiting, Paul noticed that the city was filled with shrines to a large number of gods, including one to "The Unknown God." Presumably, the Athenians didn't want to piss off a god they hadn't yet discovered.

Paul seized on that particular idol as an opportunity to present [**this stirring message**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Areopagus_sermon).

<H3>Won't you listen in as Paul addresses the Athenians?</H3>

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.” So Paul went out from their midst. But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them. [**- Acts 17:16-32**](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+17%3A16-32&version=ESV)
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  <img src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2016/12/16/12/07/greece-1911219_1280.jpg" alt="Table of Contents" style="border:0;" width="100%;">
</a><H6>Reading on the Areopagus hillside.<BR>Image courtesy of [Adrian Balea](https://pixabay.com/en/users/adibalea-316917/) and [http://pixabay.com](http://pixabay.com)</H6>

<H3>I find Paul's logic compelling; how about you?</H3>

If we are in fact the creation of an all-powerful God, we must needs be subject to his design and purpose. And to discover that such a God is kindly intentioned toward us ought to be the delightful highlight of a lifetime.

I believe that Jesus is in fact the God who, as Paul said, "made the world and everything in it" and who will one day call us all to account for our lives. Are you ready to face God on that day?

<H3>Thanks for considering this with me today.</H3>

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<center><H3>~FIN~</H3></center>

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<center>**Thanks for your time and attention.**<BR>**You**  *are why I'm here on Steemit!<BR>I have very eclectic interests and hope, over time, to write about them all.*</center>

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