Acts 17:26 - 28

"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, as also some of your own poets have said, "For we are also His offspring." Acts 17:26 - 28

There he was, standing in the middle of a hostile crowd. No one believed what he was saying. No one expected to hear anything sensible from him. Everyone knew more than he did, everyone. Still, he continued in exactly the same manner that he always did. A bit brash, a bit humble, a bit arrogant, a bit extravagant, a bit extreme. That was Indiana Jones. If you know Jones, you know that he always managed to bungle into some outrageous situation and just as bunglingly made his way out of it.

Paul was no Indiana Jones. He stood before the learned Greek philosophers on their own territory. He was confident of what he was doing. He never bungled, never. In the midst of these hostile intellectuals, Paul stood firm, argued the facts of the Gospel using their own language... and their own literature... to prove that there is but one God and He is the Father of all. Paul didn't back down. He spoke of the creation and the God who set the universe in motion. He spoke of a God who did not abandon man to his own devices. He spoke of a God who knew the sinful plight of mankind... and never thought of turning His back on His finest creation. However, Paul also spoke of a God who set boundaries... times and seasons... and announced that "this is the time" and that the window of opportunity might close. He spoke of a people who were "groping" for that One God...searching in all the wrong places, and finding nothing but futility and despair. He spoke of a people who, if they kept groping, would find that the feet of the Father were nearby and could be grasped. He spoke of a Father who was so big that the people lived in Him, moved in Him, and had their being in Him. Yet, that God was so personal that He could dwell within them... if they allowed Him too. And the scoffers scoffed; the philosophers laughed; and fools heckled. But Paul preached on, undaunted, unafraid, thoroughly convinced of the Truth he preached. And a few believed, some wanted to hear more.. and Paul secured a victory in the midst of the enemy's camp.

So you have responded to the call. You have sought. You have found. What will you do with this Jesus? Will you take Him for granted, calling upon Him when times get rough? Will you accept Him as a regular fixture in the temple of your heart... but place Him on a pedestal to be viewed and appreciated on special days? Will you use Him as your personal prophet, seeking His advice when you need answers, going your own way when you "know what you want"? Or will you take Him as the Son of God? Will you let Him be the one who sits on the throne in your temple? Will you follow Him wherever He leads you... across the street or around the world?

What will you do with this Jesus you have found? Amen and Amen.