Lesson 133 - Elementary
Memory Verse
"In him we live" (Acts 17:28).
Notes
Paul's Salvation
We remember that Paul had gone to school and studied hard when he was a boy. Although he learned his lessons well, he did not learn to love Jesus in school, and after he had gone through school he did not work for Jesus. But one day Jesus sent a bright light to Paul; and when Paul was sorry for his sins and prayed, Jesus saved him. His whole life was changed, and from that very day he loved Jesus and taught many people to be saved.
The City of Athens
In today's lesson we find Paul going to the city of Athens in the land of Greece. He wanted to teach the people in Athens about Jesus. In this city there were beautiful groves of olive trees, winding paths, fountains, and a salt-spring, which to the people of long ago was a holy place. There were long flights of marble steps, temples of marble, picture and art galleries, and great schools where many people learned a great deal. But, like Paul, these people did not learn of Jesus in the schools. Instead of worshiping Jesus, the people in Athens worshiped idols. The idols of long ago were images of men and animals carved from gold, silver, brass, iron, wood, and stone. But these false gods could not see, hear, speak or do anything for the people.
When Paul arrived in Athens he found much to do. The people had to be taught to love and worship God instead of idols. Paul needed his helpers, so he called for Silas and Timothy to come at once. While he waited for them he preached in the Jews' church and talked to the people in the busy markets.
Mars' Hill
One day Paul met some men who believed that the greatest thing in life was just having a good time. They should have been wise for they had gone to school a long time. But perhaps they had never heard about Jesus; for they, too, worshiped idols. They did not pay much attention to Paul's words but called him a babbler. Then Paul was taken to a place called Mars' hill. This was a high, rocky hill where a group of men sat who acted as judges to decide questions of religion. For many, many years this place had been used for this purpose, and sometimes criminals were taken to Mars' hill for trial. The people said to Paul something like this, "You are bringing certain strange stories to us, and we want to know what you are talking about." Perhaps they were not interested in learning about Jesus, but just wanted to hear something new.
"THE UNKNOWN GOD"
Then Paul stood up among the people on Mars' hill and told them about the only true and living God. He said, "As I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD." Paul said he would now tell them of this unknown God. So he preached about God the Father and Jesus Christ, His Son. Paul told the people that when we are saved we are all the children of God, and He wants to be a kind and loving Father unto us. So if God is our Father, we must not think of Him as an image carved out of gold, silver, or stone. He wants everyone to repent of his sins and be saved, because someday we shall all stand before God who will decide whether our life has been good or evil.
Rejected
But when these men of Athens, who thought they were wise, heard Paul tell of Jesus and His death and resurrection, they mocked Paul. Others said, "We will hear thee again of this matter."
How sad to think that they did not believe in Jesus, and would not let Him come into their hearts and wash away their sins! They were not like the jailer who trembled and said, "What must I do to be saved?" Nor did they have a hungry heart like the little man, Zacchæus who scrambled down from a tree and received Jesus joyfully. This may have been the last chance the men of Anthens had to be saved, for we do not read that Paul was ever again in their city. Only a few people there believed the Story of Jesus.
Love for Jesus
Even today in some faraway lands the people still bow down and worship idols. We should be very thankful that we live in a land where people can know and learn about Jesus. We have the Bible, God's holy Word, and it teaches us about Jesus.
Let us be careful to love Him with all our heart. We must not love anything more than we love Jesus; for if we do, it becomes an idol in our life. In our land, people do not bow down to images or statutes, but a great many people have no time for Jesus. If we let our work or our play take up all our time, we will crowd Jesus out of our heart.
Have you met this God who was unknown in Athens or is He a stranger to you, too? In order really to know God, you must let Him come into your heart. When he saves you, His love fills your soul, and Jesus is no longer unknown to you. The salvation of your soul is the most important thing in life.
Let us not turn Jesus away when He knocks at the door of our heart. We must not say, as the people in Athens said, "We will hear thee again." Jesus may be knocking at our heart today. Let us open wide the door of our heart and say:
"Into my heart, into my heart,
Come into my heart, Lord Jesus:
Come in today, Come in to stay,
Come into my heart, Lord Jesus."
Questions
1. Did the people in Athens worship God? [ACT:17:16].
2. Did Paul tell the people about the unknown God? [ACT:17:23-31].
3. Did they believe the Story of Jesus? [ACT:17:32].
4. Is God pleased with people who worship idols? [EXO:20:3-6]; [1JN:5:21].
5. Whom should we love with all our heart? [MAK:12:30].