1 Corinthians 2:2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
When the Apostle Paul was in Athens, he found the people to be (for the most part) educated and talented. They had sat under the teaching of the great Philosophers of old. They knew in their hearts (like all people) that God was real but they didn’t know the One True God. So, they built statues and monuments to many gods which of course, were all false gods.
When Paul arrived there, he observed the people. He watched them and he listened to them as they went about praying to all their false gods. When given the opportunity, Paul preached to them about Jesus. This was all new to them. They were some of the most educated people on earth and yet they had never heard of this person, Jesus.
This caused confusion in the city and they called Paul before the Aregopagus which was their Supreme Court. These men questioned Paul about this new doctrine that he brought to their city. For you bring certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. (Acts 17:20)
In search of the One True God of the Universe, these people worshiped things they had built with their own hands; idols; statues; and monuments. They did this because they believed these things would help them. They had placed their faith in man-made objects which we know to be against God’s Commandment. You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. (Exodus 20:3-5)
We may not think we do this today, but consider the things we do place our faith in. In what do we place our trust? In whom do we place our trust? Do we trust our education, money, job, husband, wife, parents, doctor, psychologist, therapist, lawyer, banker? Perhaps we trust ourselves and our own abilities. The list could go on and on.
The point is, what is the object of our faith? In whom or what do we place our faith? We may not bow down to these things and people and worship them, but if our faith is in them, it is the same thing. We make them false gods just like the people in Athens did.
Jesus said, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him. (John 14:6-7) Jesus is God. To know Him is to know the Father. He went to the Cross so we can be Redeemed in the Eyes of God and set free from the burden of sin. He accomplished everything we need on the Cross of Calvary including defeating the power of the Devil in our lives. All this is included in what He referred to as Abundant Life. I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)
Please take time to consider the object of your faith. Who or what do you trust to make your life good or better? If your answer to this is ANYTHING other than the Finished Work of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary, you are practicing idol worship. This is why Paul said, For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:2)
Faith in Christ Crucified will…..…….turn the tide……….in your world.
In Christ alone, Doreen
www.bettsministries.org
