Picture this: you walk into any bookstore. Thousands of titles. Shelves stretching forever. There’s a whole section labeled Spirituality that tries to sell you peace, power, or at least a scented candle that claims to solve most of your problems. There are “manifest-your-best-life” guides, “ask the universe for what you deserve” manuals, and a couple books promising financial blessing if you just rearrange your furniture and stop stepping on your chi.
We have more “religious options” than ever.
We live in a grazing culture. Browse. Sample. Swipe right on the divine. If one belief doesn’t make you feel good by Thursday, try a different one Friday. Our world has become a spiritual buffet in which you never have to leave the dessert bar.
People are starving for God. They just don’t want a God who has a say.
That’s not new. That’s exactly what Paul walked into in ancient Athens.
He stood in the marketplace of ideas, where hundreds of gods and philosophies competed for attention like billboards on a Vegas strip. Every viewpoint was “valid.” Every idol had equal airtime. No one had to commit, because commitment means surrender.
Yet what Paul did next changed history.
> “Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious… For as I was walking along I saw your many idols. And one of them had this inscription: ‘To the Unknown God.’”
—Acts 17:22–23 TLB
There it is. The confession our culture doesn’t want to say out loud:
We know there’s a God.
We just don’t know Him.
Paul says: “Let me introduce you.”
Today, I want to bring the same introduction. Because the God you’re searching for… is searching for you. Jesus isn’t hiding. He isn’t playing spiritual peekaboo with your soul. He wants to be known.
Paul gives us five pictures—simple, memorable, life-changing. I’ll walk you through the first two today in Part 1.
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1) The Globe
God is Creator. You didn’t make Him. He made you.
> “He made the world and everything in it.”
—Acts 17:24 TLB
The first thing Paul says is stunningly simple:
God is not a concept. God is the Creator.
He is not assembled from leftover pieces of our preferences. We don’t design Him like a custom build on an automobile website. God existed before we had opinions.
And here’s the breathtaking part:
> “He… gives life and breath to everything, and satisfies every need there is.”
—Acts 17:25 TLB
Every breath you will take today is a gift.
Every beat of your heart is powered by grace.
Every person who ever walked this earth is here because God wanted them. Including you.
We are not spiritual tourists wandering through a universe accidentally. We are handcrafted image-bearers with design, dignity, and divine purpose.
Paul continues:
> “His purpose in all of this was that they should seek after God, and perhaps feel their way toward Him—and find Him.”
—Acts 17:27 TLB
Imagine that. The God who sculpted galaxies is leaning toward you saying, “Find Me. I’m right here.”
There’s nothing accidental about your life.
You were created on purpose… for a Person… whose name is Jesus.
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2) The Scales
God is perfectly just. He puts the world right, including us.
> “He has set a day for justly judging the world.”
—Acts 17:31 TLB
Justice is a deep cry inside every human heart.
That cry comes from God Himself. Because He is just. He sees wrong. He will make all things right. The innocent who suffer. The abused. The betrayed. The forgotten. God says:
“I saw it. I remember. Justice isn’t canceled. Justice is coming.”
That is good news… until you remember we are part of the problem.
Because God’s standard isn’t “better than the next guy.” God’s standard is holy.
Perfect. Pure. No shadow. No stain.
> “All have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious ideal.”
—Romans 3:23 TLB
That includes saints. Sinners. Priests. Preachers. Presidents. Every one of us. Including the preacher talking to you right now.
So every person faces a reality:
If God brings justice…
and I’m not just…
where does that leave me?
That’s where many people panic and turn back to the spiritual buffet. They hope if they just pick the right dish: • “a little meditation,”
• “more volunteering,”
• “stop yelling at the dog,”
…maybe the scales will tip.
But deep inside, we know it’s not enough.
Our souls know we need a Savior, not a self-improvement plan.
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If God is perfectly just…
and I’m not perfectly just…
we have a problem.
But here’s the good news you’ve been waiting for.
The God who measures us with justice
is the God who loves us enough to save us.
The scales do not have the final word.
The cross does.
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3) The Lifeline
God made a way. He threw us a Savior.
> “He proved this to everyone by raising Jesus from the dead.”
—Acts 17:31 TLB
When God saw us drowning in guilt and self-reliance and spiritual confusion, He did not shout instructions from the shoreline.
He jumped in.
He sent Jesus.
Not a philosophy.
Not a spiritual app you download.
Not advice for self-improvement.
A Savior.
Because we didn’t need a coach.
We needed a rescuer.
We can’t fix our sin any more than we can perform open-heart surgery with a butter knife. We need someone who does what we cannot do.
Jesus is God’s lifeline.
Not so we behave better.
So we can live again.
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4) The One Way Sign
God didn’t send options. He sent the answer.
> Jesus said: “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life.”
—John 14:6 (paraphrase) TLB
Not a way. Not one possible way.
The Way.
You don’t enter heaven by: • accumulating spiritual merit badges
• belonging to the “right” denomination
• being slightly nicer than average
You come because Jesus came for you.
You walk through His door.
When someone says: “I’m on my own path. God and I have an understanding,”
the only question that matters is:
Is Jesus at the center of that path?
Because if He isn’t…
you’re walking toward a dead end.
We can reject Him.
We can ignore Him.
We can delay Him.
But we don’t get to rewrite Him.
The cross stands like a road sign with a single bold arrow…
? This Way to Life
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5) The ABC Blocks
You don’t climb a ladder to God. You take His hand.
Jesus made it simple enough that a child could do it:
A — Acknowledge
“I am a sinner. I can’t save myself.”
> “All have sinned.”
—Romans 3:23 TLB
Not blaming. Not justifying.
Just truth.
B — Believe
“Jesus paid my debt completely.”
> “Christ died for us.”
—Romans 5:8 TLB
He didn’t make a down payment on your forgiveness.
He stamped the bill: Paid in Full.
C — Commit
“I’m placing my life in Jesus’ hands.”
This isn’t earning.
This is surrendering to Someone who loves you more than you love yourself.
A ? I can’t
B ? Jesus did
C ? So now I trust Him
That’s salvation.
That’s hope.
That’s home.
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The Invitation: Hope-First Urgency
You were created by God.
You are loved by God.
You will be judged by God.
You can be saved by God.
Today.
Right here.
Right now.
Jesus has been calling your name for a long time.
You feel that tug for a reason.
It’s the Father leaning forward, whispering:
“Come home.”
You don’t have to get your life in order first.
You don’t have to pretend anything.
You just need to take His hand.
You can pray this in your heart even as I speak:
“Jesus… I need You.
I acknowledge my sin.
I believe You died for me.
I commit myself to You today.
Be my Savior. Be my Lord.
Thank You for loving me.
Amen.”
Friend… if that’s your prayer tonight,
heaven just threw a party in your honor.
Because the God of the universe…
the God Athens labeled “unknown”…
is now your Father…
and Jesus is your Savior…
and hope is your story.
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Closing Charge
There are people in your world who are spiritually starving at the buffet table. They don’t need someone folding their arms and shaking their head.
They need a light.
You know the Way.
Show the Way.
Live the answer you’ve found.
