Esotropiart

And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!" Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, "Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness." Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.

Acts 14:11-18 ESV

I found this passage quite interesting today because it came across starkly for some reason. I guess today's theme in my writing is the first and second commandments. The last blog entry I wrote had a similar theme.

What struck me as interesting and new (I don't remember noticing before) this time was verses 16 and 17: "In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness." I think I skipped right over those verses in previous reads of this passage. I see now a HUGE and OBVIOUS connection between these verses and Romans 1:18-25 - a passage I seem to be eternally "reading" in preparation for talking with Elder Dave :)

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

Romans 1:18-25 ESV

Look at that! Paul speaks of God allowing the nations to walk in their own ways (implying evil ways). Yet His witness to them was embedded in creation. It's a cool description of a God who defies the impersonal one presented by the Deists. His hand is indeed at work in our lives. What we see as chance such as good weather and seasonal crops is actually the kindness of God shining down on us. For those who live in darkness, what is God's antidote? He is fully capable and within "His rights" to curse the land of His enemies. Sometimes He may see fit to do just that. However, He is not limited to our expectations. Perhaps more often than not, God blesses the wicked right alongside the righteous. Why?! Huh? What's up with that!? SAY WHAT!?

Here's a big ole clue for you. I was once in sin. You were too. We all were. God looked down from heaven on all men to see if there was a single one who was good. Guess what, He didn't find a single one to point at. His fingers remained in His pockets, and He turned around and kicked the empty soda can as He walked down the streets of gold. Not a SINGLE one good? How depressing is that!?

God could sigh in His high heaven and say, "What the hayock happened to the stuff I made that I am certain I once said of it, 'It is good'?" Or He could choose to destroy it all like in the flood and start all over with a clean palette. "Let's put some friendly bushes over here, some mighty trees, some happy clouds, and all sorts of sticks and twigs, whatever you feel like... just beat the paint out of it, my favorite part!" (Does God have a big afro-for-hair and a mellow voice? Nah!)

Instead we learn that it is God's kindness that leads us to repentance. How on earth could the wicked turn to God without His kindness shining down on them? He leaves His witness - the favorable crops in season - to tell of His kindness, even to those who turn aside and worship creation rather than the Creator! He causes His rain to fall on the just and the unjust. How kind is that? Feel unfair? You don't like that the one who works 1 hour gets the same wage as you who worked all day in the grueling heat? Don't like that your brother who squandered his inheritance with wild living and repented at the last second gets a feast? Don't like the criminal who gets to see Jesus "today in paradise"? Well I DOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Thank You, Lord! Thank You for being kind to sinners! Thank You for being merciful to me, even when I so many times have turned my back on You! I'd be lost without Your kindness. You have brought me to repentance! Wowza!

It's a shame what we see happening here in Acts. The passage in Romans explains exactly what the silly people in Acts did in response to the apostles. The men witness the miracles performed through the hand of Paul and declare he and Barnabas to be gods. Rather than give glory to the Creator, the intention of the "message" of the miracle, the people instantly glorify gods they themselves created with their own hands. Messed up! The Roman gods are SO idols! Think about it. Polytheistic systems are often divided and named by features and "benefits" provided in nature. Ah, the crops are cool and nice and regularly provided... and the rain, the sun, and so on. This stuff is "good", so let's make categorized gods, give them names, say they are the god of "so and so" and "such and such". Surely all this splendor surrounding us in nature is worthy of worship!

Aaaaah! The very mirrors that God embeds in creation intended to reflect eyes to Him are looked upon as gods themselves! Worship the mirror? No! Stop that! You see, these things are gifts FROM God. They are His kindness to turn our hearts toward repentance. They are not gods themselves. Don't craft images of things in the form of people and animals. Don't exalt the lowly. God alone is God! He doesn't take kindly to being replaced by the relatively simple things He's made, or worse yet the things WE make! Will we worship dead wood and stone? How foolish is that!?

...if you read further in Acts, immediately after worshiping the apostles, the same crowd is convinced to stone them. I'm sorry, but that is crazy! What in the world!? I hope we are not so easily deceived on a whim today. Sometimes I think we are. We're just a big mob of mindless freaks sometimes. Is not our culture full of similar deceptions? If you say no, you might be in the cloud yourself. You have to step into the light in order to recognize the haze you once called "truth". Don't we prostitute ourselves to the highest bidder? We live in this world as if it is all there is. All the while God alone is God, but do we exalt Him and make His name known or give thanks to Him for His good gifts? Oh dear, such audible declarations might offend someone. We better keep it to ourselves, in case those who listen worship some other god or believe in no god at all! NO! Shout it from the rooftops! Wake up, O sleepers! Rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light! Seek God while He may still be found. If Jesus finds little faith when He returns to the earth, resolve that your obedience and faith will make up part of His favorable yet meager collection. Endure to the end, and all the rewards promised in the book of Revelation will be yours. Above all that, God will Himself claim you. He is the greatest reward. The rest is comparatively fluff.