In Arlington Cemetery there is a tomb of the unknown soldier. He represents all the men and women who were missing in service to their country. With today's technology the soldier in the tomb may be known by examining the DNA. This would be welcomed by his descendants, but still the tomb is needed to as a memorial to those lost in service.
Paul and Silas were in Lystra where they first met Timothy whose mother was a Jew and his father a Greek. Timothy was invited to journey with them, but first he was to be circumcised as a Jew, which was still the custom for the Jews, but not necessary for the Gentiles. Paul was called to Athens and left ahead of his partners. Athens Greece was the place that philosophers gathered to discuss ideas and new thoughts. While there Paul noticed that there were memorials to many gods, including one to the unknown God. Paul used this unknown god's memorial to tell them about the Almighty God.
Act 17:22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
Act 17:23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
Act 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
Act 17:25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
Act 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
Act 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
Act 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
Act 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
Act 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Act 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
Act 17:32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.
Act 17:33 So Paul departed from among them.
Act 17:34 Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
Some were interested in Paul's God, others wanted to hear more later and there were always those who mocked him in unbelief. Some receive the good report while others mock and seek to destroy the message and the messenger. Willfully opposing the truth will not remove the truth, it will just leave the unknown unknown to them. They will know the truth, but it will be too late at the judgement seat of God. Let us make the unknown God known to those who are seeking him. Jesus is the way to eternal life with the God who knows you and loves you.
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