Acts 17:30 (NIV): “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.”
I see God everywhere. I see Him in my puppies. They are amazing. When I think about the complexity of their growth and how they want love and give love, I am humbled. They just couldn’t have happened by chance. I see God in the way things grow on the property I live on. My mother-in-law purchased 50 maple trees that line our lane. Even after several were damaged by young bucks rubbing their antlers on the young bark, those trees have healed and overcome. It is remarkable. I see God in the majesty of the nighttime. The moon and the stars and the planets are beyond me. What I learn about the universe leads me to know that there is a Creator who established it all.
Of course, I have become very open to seeing God because of what Jesus has done for me. The proof of Jesus being the Son of God is Him be raised from the dead. The evidence is there. Just like the evidence for God is everywhere, the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus is available to all. The surrounding verses of the above verse are important:
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
I have to ask why everyone doesn’t follow Jesus the way I do. The above verse talks about ignorance. I think that is the reason. The root word is ignore. So many people simply ignore God. They ignore any evidence or proof that conflicts with their own worldview. If a person starts with the premise that there is no God, then they cannot see any evidence contrary to their premise. I think that is so sad. I want people to see. I want people to know the freedom of following Jesus as Lord and Savior.
So, how to overcome ignorance? The above verse states the answer simply. All people everywhere need to repent – change from following their own paths and choose to follow Jesus.Prayer: Lord God, thank you for allowing me to see You, to experience You in Your creation. Thank you for sending Jesus. I pray that people everywhere would repent, giving up their ignorance, and would follow You.
