This what I now proclaim

As you may know, St Paul was a great man and much travelled. To him God had entrusted the task of starting off the missionary work. He was the man who had the job of taking the Gospel to the Gentiles. So this was when the good news was spread beyond the Jewish area. One of the places he visited was the ancient city of Athens, capital of the Greek nation.

To Paul, Athens was an amazing place, full of religion. I should really say it was full of religions. There were altars to this god and that god. But there was no altar to God himself. Of course, when he got there, Paul started conversations with all sorts of people. If there was one thing Athenians liked to do it was talk. They still do! The Epicureans and the Stoics wanted to know just what Paul was up to so they called him before the Council of the Areopagus. "May we know what this new doctrine is that you propound? You are introducing ideas that sound strange to us, and we should like to know what they mean."

You see, the people loved to talk about the latest thing. Today we would be saying, "Did you see the new James Bond film? Listen to this new track I've downloaded to my MP3 player. Oh, I see you are wearing the latest Gucci watch on your wrist." But in those days the Athenians loved to talk about the latest philosophy or religion that was going about.

Paul began, "Men of Athens, I see that in everything that concerns religion you are uncommonly scrupulous. As I was going round looking at the objects of your worship, I noticed among other things an altar bearing the inscription, "To an unknown God." What you worship but do not know - this is what I now proclaim."

As with people today, the people of Athens were keen to worship the latest thing. Like us they were an acquisitive society. But what they acquired were religions just in case their first choice happened to be wrong. They played around with this religion and that but never came up with anything worthwhile. Because they knew there should be a correct religion they erected an altar to its god. So it was there, ready for the day when a new god came along.

Now, for Paul, this was a God given opportunity to preach the good news of Jesus. It gave him a very useful starting point. He didn't stay long in Athens as he was heading for Corinth. But in the short time he was passing through Athens he got at least two converts.

Today people are very busy chasing the latest novelty in the same way. They are also aware that there is something missing in their lives. They need something to underpin their lives because they realise that the moment they stop there is no foundation on which to stand. They need a strength in their lives. They need something solid and reliable. This what I now proclaim to you. Deep down you have a craving which tells you of a need of a safe harbour. When all the dashing stops and you take a breather from the pressure of life what is there? Precious little to sustain you.

Yet there is a solid rock on which you can build a new life. Jesus is already here, waiting for you, calling to you. If you stop you can listen for that voice. At the end of your life what happens? Full stop, or as Americans say, period. But for Christians we can say, "You ain't seen nothing yet." Because life just goes on into eternity. Jesus is calling you to follow him in faith. He has prepared the way for you. When he died on the Cross the way to God was made wide open. His resurrection lifts us to the highest heights because he has beaten that last enemy, death. You see, he still says, even after death, "Follow me." He offers eternal life which means it goes on and on with no full stop to fear.

With Jesus you are offered the ultimate guarantee - one that is absolutely certain and reliable. You are guaranteed that your present life will become even more worthwhile; your life will have great purpose and direction; your target will be crystal clear and attainable. When death comes to you it is going to be only a stepping stone into what is promised in abundance, life in the presence of God himself.