BELOVED reader, if you had been on Mars’ Hill about eighteen hundred and forty years ago you would have beheld a solemn and interesting sight. God had sent His servant Paul there, who had gone about their fine streets, and whose “spirit was stirred in him when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.” But we must not suppose that Paul was any mere sight-seer. He was at Athens for God, and to testify for his Master, Jesus Christ.
First he repairs to the synagogue, for the Gospel is “to the Jew first”; and then to the marketplace, where he reasoned every day with those who met him. And, be it observed, it was not about their fine city, its magnificent situation, its strong fortresses, its schools of learning, nor its wealth and prosperity, that he discoursed, but he preached unto them, Jesus, and the resurrection. He proclaimed a Saviour― Jesus, and the solemn fact that the day is coming when “all who are in their graves shall hear his voice, and come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment.”
But this did not suit the men of learning of that day. Man’s mind, for the most part, rum counter to the revelation of God; hence it reads, “his way” and “his thoughts” are to be forsaken, “and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him: and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Isa. 55:6-86Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. (Isaiah 55:6‑8)).
Now Athens in those days was one of the seats of learning. Philosophers of every school were to be found there. “The Greeks seek after wisdom;” and these poor men were groping their way, in matters too high for man to reach, apart from the lamp of revelation; for who by searching can find out God? or who by working can save his soul?
These men listened to Paul, and called him a babbler, or chatterer. Now Christ crucified is to the believer both the power of God, and the wisdom of God; but to those men of worldly wisdom it was foolishness.
Reader, what is Christ crucified to you? ―the power of God, and the wisdom of God? or foolishness? Which? If you say the former, it is well; if the latter, it is not well, for there is no salvation apart from Christ, and Him crucified.
Paul is brought by these philosophers to Areopagus, or Mars’ Hill, the highest court in Athens, and there he is confronted with a large company of those who represented the learning of the day. It was a solemn and interesting moment, ―human learning pitted against the Gospel of God.
Paul discourses; the man of God is alone in testimony for his Lord. Mark the heads of his sermon. God―to them the unknown God―God, and man in relation to Him as a responsible being, form, as it were, the first part.
Man’s sin, and God’s call to repentance, with the assurance of forgiveness, form the second.
The day of judgment, the appointed Judge, the risen Christ in glory―the Man rejected from the earth, but enthroned on high, ―form the third.
With what fervency the man of God speaks, and with what power he deals with the conscience of his hearers. God is supreme; man is a creature, and, alas1 a sinful, fallen creature; and, solemn fact, he has to give account of himself to God; for it is written, “As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God” (Rom. 14:1111For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. (Romans 14:11)).
In the light of this, what more right than the sinner’s repentance, repentance toward God! Could you conceive of anything more consistent? A creature getting into his right place before his Creator, owning His authority, and confessing his sin. How could God meet a guilty sinner save in judgment, if he did not take the place of repentance? And mark, heaven rejoices when he does. “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth” (Luke 15:1010Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. (Luke 15:10)).
It is a blessedly interesting sight to see a sinner repenting. The world may not think much of it; but heaven does, and rejoices over it. And why? Because another fallen rebellious creature has got into his right place with God, has recovered himself, and God is left free to come forth in grace, on the ground of the precious death of His Son, and pardon and save. Those unjealous beings in heaven rejoice in the sinner’s blessing, and in the exercise of God’s grace on his behalf.
Beloved reader, do you know what repentance toward God is? ―repentance to salvation not to be repented of. True repentance goes with something else, viz., “faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” A repentant sinner sees that God has provided a sacrifice, and that the blood of that sacrifice has made atonement for the soul. By faith he reposes in that blood, and in Him who shed it, and the blessed result is―salvation.
Oh, sweet thought, sweeter still as the years roll by, is that of God’s salvation for a poor sinner who deserved it not! And wondrous thought, that while it only cost God but a word to call into existence the universe, it cost Him His own dear Son, and that Son His life-blood, to save one poor sinner! No wonder then that heaven rejoices, for all the mind of heaven is one. If you are not saved, dear reader, I would beseech of you to obey the command of God to repent. His goodness leads to repentance, and heaven rejoices when you do. In the light of that dreadful day of judgment He commands all men―you―to repent. Will you repent? Will you return? Will you seek His face? Will you trust in Jesus and His blood? Oh, how interested are the three Persons in the blessed Trinity in your salvation! God the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world; God the Son died, the just for the unjust, that we might be brought to God; God the Spirit is here to convince of sin, to testify of Jesus, and to lead the sinner to trust in Him. Let it be said today in heaven, ―yea, while you read these lines, ―that you obeyed the command of God to repent, that you turned to Christ in faith, and that you accepted, without reserve, the testimony of God the Holy Spirit, that God will remember your sine and iniquities no more forever (Heb. 10:15-1815Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 18Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. (Hebrews 10:15‑18)).
But to return to Paul. As is usually the case, the preaching of the Gospel split the congregation up into three parts: first, “some mocked”―mockers; second, others said, “We will hear thee again of this matter” ― procrastinators; third, “Howbeit certain men slave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them”―believers.
Reader, in the light of eternity, I ask you, To which of the three classes do you belong? ―to those who mocked? to those who procrastinated? or to those who accepted the Gospel, as the message of God to them, and believed? Let not the sun go down again before you are ranged before God with those who believe in His blessed Son.
In the day of judgment, where will the mockers have their portion? In hell. And in that day when the voice of mercy is heard no more, where will the procrastinators be? Alas! in hell. And in that day, what of the believer? Thank God, he will be “forever with the Lord.” E. A.