I have long been intrigued by the depiction of the human condition Paul delivered in his address to the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers of Athens upon their invitation to have him speak in the Aeropagus, a place where Athenians “spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas” (Acts 17:21)—a form of 1st century talk radio, I would say.
Listen to what he said: “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring'”
Here’s how this breaks down, as I see it. God made the world, put us in it, determined the times and the places we would occupy, but left out some valuable pieces of information as to who we are, who he is, and how he is to be known. He did this so that we would have to get answers.
So on and on I go
The seconds tick the time out
There’s so much left to know
And I’m on the road to find out – Cat Stevens
It’s a God-given, universal human need. God purposely made us so that we would have to seek him, because he wants to be found. And yet—and here’s the irony—he is all around us. So much so that we live, move and have our being in him. That would be a little like being a fish in a fishbowl and not knowing where God is, when, in fact, he is the water in which you swim. Such is the state of humanity.
John Fischer The Catch 
This was particularly encouraging to me today. We have our house on the market and we have picked out a house we really desire to move to but cannot until our home sells. We have begun to wonder if we have stepped out of God’s will by putting our house up for sale since no offers have been made on it. I’ve fretted and stewed over the house we desire being sold before we would be able to purchase it, and this morning I read.
“From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’”
It was reassuring to hear that God has set the exact place that I should live and now I think I can rest in that and try to wait more patiently as we see God’s plan unfold.
Thanks!
Sandy
A unique and personal application. I’m glad God spoke to you through this.
Thanks, John. It always amazes me how much more sense animals seem to have than humans. For example, you feed a dog or a horse, and they know who their master is and would never think of looking for one elsewhere. As a matter of fact, if you feed a stray dog or cat once, you can’t get rid of him. But God feeds us every day, faithfully, with the best He has, and yet we go looking for other masters in other places. What is wrong with us?
Animals also know their masters well. Have you noticed how a dog won’t take his eyes off his master, how he knows his voice and responds to his voice, how he can even feel when something is wrong with his master. Compare us towards God. He practically has to hit us over the head to get our attention. What is wrong with us? Why are we so contrary?
Even fish and birds with their little pea brains seem to have more sense. I guess the best comparison is sheep. They really are contrary like us. Thank God He made one animal we can relate to. 🙂
An older fish swims by two younger fish and asks them, “How’s the water today, boys?” After he passes them, one of the younger fish turns to the other and asks, “What’s water?” I suspect we’re a lot like the younger fish, oblivious to all around us that speaks of God — sometimes innocently, more often deliberately.
I read this devotional today in Max Lucado’s Daily Text Devotionals and it made me think of your fishbowl theology devotional:
Immersed in Grace
By Max Lucado
“The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad.” Psalm 126:3 NKJV
You have not been sprinkled with forgiveness. You have not been spattered with grace. You have not been dusted with kindness. You have been immersed in it. You are submerged in mercy. You are a minnow in the ocean of God’s mercy. Let it change you!