To An Unknown God, who made the world and everything in it

“‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about. He is the God who made the world and everything in it.” Acts 17:23b-24a NLT

On his second missionary journey, Paul arrived in Athens ahead of his companions, Silas and Timothy, as he was distancing himself from Jews who were stirring up trouble everywhere he went. As Paul walked around the city, he noticed shrines and idols erected for the many gods they worshiped in that ancient Greek culture. To make sure no gods were missed or there was a god they didn’t know about, there was an alter with the inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ Paul took advantage of their sincerity in the gods and philosophy of their culture by telling them the one they worship in ignorance is the one true God who made the heavens, the earth and everything in it.  

Today there are people who worship many gods without worrying if they need an inscription to an unknown god. They think they have it all covered. Allow me to illustrate three scenarios. The first one; as the ancient Greeks did, people today worship at the altar of idols they have created but not realizing they are idols. The difference is that they do not consider them as gods, but a part of life. These gods consume and control them with the pleasantries of this life. They are the gods of money, pride, luxuries, fame, power, entertainment, drugs, alcohol, and sexual pleasure. With these idols as their gods, the true God of heaven is unknown to them, and they have no desire to see if there is something missing.

The second scenario are those who follow the religions of the world as one of many gods or ways to the true God. Even some of those who profess Christianity do not know God and his plan of salvation but rely on their good deeds. They are confident they are secure, but the God of the Bible is unknown to them, and do not realize He is missing.

And third, others follow the gods within themselves, claiming their inner spirit is a god within them connecting themselves to their charitable work, kindness, pursuit for justice, and claiming love and peace across the world. All good qualities that should be pursued by every Christian who truly knows God. But to the one spends their entire life on such endeavors, they too think they have it all covered.

If you find yourself in any of these scenarios hear the Apostle Paul. Each of these scenarios has a god, a religion, that is being followed as the ancient Greeks, but it’s not the true God. Paul says “He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need.” (Acts 17:24-25 nlt) If God is unknown to you, know this; There is only one true God and He is the God of the Bible. Get to know Him!

Read: Acts 17:22-31 NLT – So Paul, standing before the council, – Bible Gateway