“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” Eph 2:19-22 NASU
In our recent travels to Egypt and Greece I found myself contemplating their ancient history as told through the Bible’s perspective. Each of these nations once held the most dominant place among the nations of their time and were feared. Each nation was bound my superstition and idolatry that governed their daily activities, military actions, philosophy and the infrastructures of their cultures.
Even today when tourists visit these ancient lands there is a fascination with these past empires. Hastily, we make the rounds trying to see as many of the famous ruins and places that we recall from our studies as we sat in classrooms and learned about ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome in world history.
As I walked among the pyramids of Egypt and took in the archeological sites, I realized most are dedicated to an Egyptian god or goddess or to a Pharaoh who was worshipped as a god. I could not help think, “I am standing in the land where God used Moses to demonstrate to all of Egypt and the known world of that time, He alone is the Most High God!” Every plague that came was a judgment and direct declaration that the gods of Egypt were powerless against the God of Israel. Though the pyramids are a wonder to behold, the glory of Egypt has faded but the testimony of God and the demonstration of His Spirit remains in the earth.
A few weeks later, Bob and I traveled to Athens, Greece. We had the opportunity to visit some of the most famous ancient ruins: The Acropolis, The Parthenon, The Temple of Olympian Zeus, Temple of Hephaestus/Theseion, The Erechtheion dedicated to Athena and Poseidon and the list goes on! There were 19 temples to Greek gods in Athens alone, not counting the statues depicting different deities that were scattered in the city. Like Egypt, the culture of ancient Greece was entangled in their idolatry. In Acts 17 we have an account of Paul’s time in Athens. The Bible tells us, “while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols.” Today, all that remains of the gods and goddesses of Greece lies in ruins!
Near the Parthenon lies the Areopagus, a rock mound that we know as “Mars Hill”. It is a large rock where the philosophers of that age would sit and discuss theories and ideas. Areopagus is where Paul the Apostle comes and uses his knowledge of their culture to open a discussion about the “statue to the Unknown God,” (Ac.17) through which he can share the message of the Gospel of Christ. The glory of ancient Greece lies in ruins, but the message that Paul preached on Mars Hill is still resounding in the earth today! The Most High God is still demonstrating but He chooses people not buildings to make a lasting statement of His Glory! The glory of the Church of Jesus Christ is not in the cathedrals built or in physical structures, His Glory is revealed in the Holy Habitation or Temple that He is building with every believer as a part of that structure throughout the ages!
I was so struck by the fact that in both Egypt and Greece the structures built to glorify their deities are empty monuments or broken down ruins! BUT the Church of Jesus Christ is alive and well and the demonstration of our LORD is still resounding in the earth! For God’s heart and His message remain the same that, “the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”