STRANGE!

 

Wednesday, June 5, 2024

 

STRANGE!

 

Acts 17:17-20

17 Therefore disputed he [PAUL] in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.

18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.

19 And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?

20 For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.

 

          The whole idea of Christianity is strange to the irreligious man or even to the hyper-religious man. It is strange to imagine that all that we see was created by a God we cannot see. It is strange that this God, who evidently has a son, would send that son to be a sacrifice for sin. It is strange that God’s son, completely against nature, would be born of a virgin.

 

          It is strange that Jesus would preach a doctrine so completely foreign to all known philosophies that they would kill him because of it. It is strange that after three days he came to life again and walked around for forty days before disappearing into a cloud before witnesses.

 

          Even more strange is that for thousands of years people from every nation, language, culture, and economy would believe all these things. Strange too is the fact that believers have gladly died for their belief. Christian martyrs do not die with explosives strapped to their chest in one final act of angry disgust. No, Christian martyrs die with a Bible in their hand and a tear in their eye in one final act of love for infidels. Strange!

 

          It is strange that the Bible predicts a global path of moral decline which leads to the end of the world. Stranger still is the fact that the world persists in following that plan so closely that we can see the end drawing closer.

 

          If you think Christianity is strange, consider this. If, at the end of life, Christianity is wrong then we have only forfeited our lives. If it is right, then you have forfeited your eternity.

 

1 Cor 2:14

14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness [absurdity] unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

 

Dear Lord! Thank you for revealing yourself to us, giving yourself for us, and pursuing us relentlessly with love. AMEN