The Kingdom Series – "The Highest Calling"

FRESH BREAD

The Kingdom Series – "The Highest Calling"

By David White  

     “And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being,” (Acts 17:26-28)

     The ultimate purpose for every man, woman and child on the face of the earth is the same. It’s to seek the Lord with heart felt passion, and find Him. Because it is only in Him where life takes on meaning and purpose and as the Scriptures confirm, where we begin to live and move and have our being.

     As the Apostle Paul passed through the city of Athens, he was brought to a place where many of the intellectuals of that day would gather together seeking to tell or hear about something new.  The word had spread how Paul was preaching Jesus and His resurrection from the dead. Because this seemed to be new and unheard of revelation, many wanted to hear more of what Paul had to say.

     Paul had become aware of the religious nature of the people of Athens as he saw for himself the city full of idols, shrines and other symbols of worship. He even noticed one altar with the inscription that read: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. This was the opportunity for Paul to speak to the people about what he knew they were really looking for.  

     Every man and woman is seeking something they can’t seem to find. Like this altar, hidden within the hearts of men and women lies an undefined longing that nothing in this world can satisfy. Therefore most people live empty and unfulfilled lives looking for something new to fill the void within. They may discover something that seems to be the answer to what they are looking for, but soon the newness wears off and they are back to looking for the next fix.

    

      Paul takes the opportunity to tell the people that this UNKNOWN GOD, that they at least admitted existed, is the One their soul longed for. He goes so far as to tell them that this God had even appointed them to live where they now lived.

     The Amplified Bible translates it this way. “And He (God) made from one (common origin, one source, one blood) all nations of men to settle on the face of the earth, having definitely determined (their) allotted periods of time and the fixed boundaries of their habitation (their settlements, lands, and abodes), So that they would seek God, in hope that they might feel after Him and find Him, although He is not far from each one of us” Acts 17:26-27.

     God has purposed that we live where we do so we can touch the lives of the specific people He has placed around us. Understanding this simple truth could start a spiritual revolution in every city and neighborhood on earth. However there is more to this story.

     If seeking God with heart felt passion and finding Him is the ultimate purpose of those who have yet to know the Lord, then how much more is this one thing still the single most important purpose for those who do know Him?

     The men and women of Athens were constantly in search for the latest, newest and greatest revelation. They were searching for something they couldn’t find although what they were looking for was right in front of them. After defining their purpose Paul told them, “though He is not far from each one of us…” (Acts 17:27)

     Speaking of the last days, Paul cautions about those who would be “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7). This is especially troubling when we understand that He who is the Way, the Truth and the Life is not far from each one of us.    

    

     Our main purpose in life is to seek God, go after Him with passion, and find Him discovering that He is not very far from any of us. Doing this one thing every day, will lead to our living and moving and having our being in Him which is the ultimate satisfaction. There is no higher calling, and it’s the call of God to everyone on the face of the earth in this hour.