“The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,” Acts 1:1.
As I sought to explain last week, we will look at this Book of the Acts because I believe that the world is returning to those days of darkness and ignorance of God’s Word. Such was the world into which the apostles went forth with the gospel.
Evidence of the retuning back to those evil days is set before us if we have eyes to see! I want to show you the evidence. We can see what is ahead by looking back!
THE WORLD IS ONCE AGAIN DOMINATED BY THE DARKNESS THAT ENGULFED THE NATIONS BACK THEN.
“Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, (the centre of the world’s learning and wisdom) I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you,” Acts 17:22-23.
1. Superstition. They were full of ‘religion’ but it was of their own devising! They were conscious of ONE of whom they knew nothing and could only call Him the ‘UNKNOWN GOD’. The false religions of the world are man’s efforts to worship the UNKNOWN GOD in a way which they imagine is right!
2. Idolatry. The worship of idols is the height of folly. “And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god. They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand. And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?” Isaiah 44:17-19.
3. Gross ignorance of things spiritual. Being in darkness, the evil works of darkness fill the lives of sinful men. “The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” Matthew 4:16-17. It is the Saviour who beings light. “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life,” John 8:12. Girls and boys, are you walking in the light of the gospel today”?