Actually Not Far (Acts 17:27b)

 

Saturday, August 16, 2025

Psalm 105:1-22

2 Samuel 19:41-20:13

Acts 17:22-34

Actually Not Far (Acts 17:27b)

Yet [God] is actually not far from each one of us.

St Paul’s preaching at the Areopagus is a masterclass in Christian apologetics. He manages to hold together both a point of connection between the Christian and the unbeliever, as well as a plain presentation of the core of the gospel message. It is this point of connection that is so encouraging for us today, many of us who live in social groupings filled with non-Christians.

The apostle has perceived that the men of Athens are very religious. It is as true in ancient Athens as it is in every place and every time. Look at where he starts: with Genesis 1, of God forming everything from nothing, followed by the one man (Adam), from whom came every other human being. Instead of this being a point of scientific contention (and there were plenty of competing scientific theories they could have argued over), he gives the “so what”: “that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him.” God made us in a certain way for the certain purpose that we should seek him. Not only is this good apologetics, it is immensely comforting to the believer: God’s purpose for our creation is to be with him.

But this is not quite the whole picture, St Paul continues. God is not actually far from us, for in him we live and move and have our being. I have heard this idea illustrated in a certain way. It goes like this: How often do we think of ourselves as being little fish in a big ocean, and God is the biggest fish swimming around? When in reality, God is actually the ocean itself. God is not “out there” to be searched for; we are in God, right now. What we are searching for is a deeper understanding of the true nature of reality as creatures held in God at all times.

When you search for God, where do you look?

Lord of heaven and earth, you have made the world and everything in it, and all things live and move and have their being in you: you are not far from us, yet we often feel far from you. Teach us your nearness in the face of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.