Read - Acts 17:22-31
In the U.S., there are many different kinds of religious beliefs, a multitude of different versions of gods to be believed on, and it’s up to you to decide which god you like best. It's kinda like the Baskin Robbins of spirituality in America. And as a people we'll even take it further into the muck and mire of uncertainty by worshipping the unknown god. I still remember a conversation I had with a very nice neighborhood woman who said to me, “It doesn’t matter which god you believe in, as long as you believe in something.” It was critical to her that when we speak of eternal things we speak positivity into it. Our belief is the power agent, it's whats going to get us to where we want to go, even if we don't know where we're going. So even the agnostic, or the polytheists, see value in believing. It's not so much the object of that belief that matters, it's only important that you're a believer, not what you believe because truth is subjective.
This neighbor lady and I got talking about this stuff because I was transplanting her god for her...well I should say, one of her gods. It was a Hyssop (type of mint) plant that she kept in her kitchen. And in her culture this plant is considered to be a god among many. I have to admit I wasn't really sure how I was supposed to handle a god while that god's life was in my hands. And doing this got me to thinking about the Paul's gospel story in the Bible Book of Acts 17:22-31. It's the story about the people of Athens Greece and the many gods they worshipped. In fact they worshipped so many they covered their tracks by even worshipping an "unknown god". For the Hindu culture the world is god. Everything and everyone is god. Trees, animals, water, sky, good people and bad, all types of gods. Millions of gods. They worship the creation. And in one sense you can say they're right to do so. In the sense that God created all things through Jesus Christ Son of the living God. And God called this creation good.
If it's so good, why does it seem that we're all trying to get out of it? Why look for gods around every corner? Why transcend this good place?
Lots of people claim they're seeking truth, seeking God, seeking peace of mind on earth. Seeking prosperity and protection. Seeking understanding and the knowledge of the divine agents that created this universe.
Why?
Here we are. In the good creation. God said it was good afterall. And we're not satisfied?
Well the truth of the matter is, God put that hungering into us. He created in us the desire to find him. And before we complete that search, he chooses us. From the very beginning of creation, God was searching for a relationship with his man creatures. And throughout the Bible there are stories concerning Jesus, involved, inviting, and coming. He's choosing, calling, and talking with his friends. Thats right, friends. He even said, "You are my friends if you do what I command you." And Jesus the guide into truth tells them, “This is what I command you: Love one another."
One great example of our God friend choosing us. He's on the road to Emmaus alongside others leaving Jerusalem. It's the same day, Sunday, the day he rose from the dead. And he meets with friends that are troubled by his trial and death on the cross. They travel together for a time and Jesus triangulates a picture of himself through the book of Moses and the prophets. He creates a map for them to follow so they'll be able to find their way. He found them. Though they were disheartened, not searching at all, in fact they were spiritually orphaned, Jesus found them and chose to open their minds.
Jesus said to all who love him:
"You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you." (John 15:16)
And Jesus told them they are no longer servants, because a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. Now they know. They know because The Lord found them and told them what he's doing and why.
And he called them friends...
Jesus said:
"You are my friends if you do what I command you."
“This is what I command you: Love one another."
This has always been the plan. God planned this searching from before the beginning. We searching for him, he searching for us.
Paul said:
"he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him" (Ephesians 1:4)
Obviously God knew they'd be a need.
Probably the war in heaven between the angels of God was a clue.
As God's creation, we have a deep need to discover our purpose and to find meaning in life. So, answering the question of why the Lord created us is important. Learning what God put us here for helps us to define who we are and what we're meant to do. And once we know His plans for us, we’ll have the right compass to guide us through this temporary life on earth. And hopefully we'll discover along the way the truth that gets us into the life everlasting. The Bible shows us that God “fearfully and wonderfully made” us for a very special purpose. And within its pages, we’ll also find insights on how to fulfill that mission.
Why did God create us?
“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground. So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground’” (Genesis 1:26-28).
Why did he want this for us?
“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it” (Genesis 2:15).
But why? What does God want?
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10).
He chose us...
God bless you now and forevermore.
Be all you're meant to be in Christ Jesus.
You're meant for so much more.