The apostle Paul, as recorded in Acts 17:22-27:
22 …stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
We see Paul here in Athens for a short period of time. When he saw the whole city being so idolatrous, he was provoked in his heart (Acts 17:16) and subsequently reached out to them by preaching and discussing with them daily (Acts 17:17). The people knew of the existence of a being that was higher than mankind, but they were worshiping ignorantly. They did not know who exactly God was but were superstitiously worshiping any god that came along.
God exists! The wise man recorded that God had made everything beautiful in His time and He had set eternity in the hearts of mankind (Ecclesiastes 3:11). I believe that there is a living God who is the creator and sustainer of this world. There is a persisting intuition in man that there is a God. Afterall, God made mankind in His own image (Genesis 1:27). Those in Athens worshiped a god or gods and there are also several examples of people in the bible who worshiped. However, the worship that the people in Athens offered was ignorant worship. They did not know who they were worshiping.
Paul made it clear that the God whom we should worship is the One who “made the world and all things therein” and “he is Lord of heaven and earth” and “dwelleth not in temples made with hands” (Acts 17:24). The God whom we should worship does not need anything but “he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things” (Acts 17:25). God is a spirit (John 4:24) and thus He does not need any physical habitation or the need to live in any temples or even the homes of people. He does not need to be fed food and drink. Instead, He is the sustainer of life and He provides for the basic needs of His children.
I believe that there is a living God because every creation must have a creator. Just as an airplane with its many complex electronics, electrical, mechanical and computer systems require designers and engineers, there must surely be a creator of this universe. Just as an airplane does not evolve out of nothing nor did it come into existence by chance through any sudden occurrence nor any catastrophic means, this universe with so many complex things in it would not have come about through such means. There must have been a designer and creator. This designer is the Almighty God in heaven. Notice the number of organs we have in our body, or even the human eye which is equivalent to the power of a 576 megapixel camera. Surely, this cannot come about as a result of chance.
The Hebrews writer wrote “For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God” (Hebrews 3:4). King David also said that the heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows His handiwork (Psalm 19:1). Looking at nature’s intricate design and beauty, and tracing the development of a child from the fetus on the ultrasound scan to a newborn and subsequently to a toddler, I cannot help but marvel at God’s creation. Truly, all these do not happen by chance but come as a result of the creation of a superior being – God.
Mankind will seek after God if they believe that He exists. Paul said that God is not far from every one of us (Acts 17:27). I believe that God exists and He is a living God. As such, I will seek God. Not only will I seek after Him but I am determined to be obedient to His word. Jesus said “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). How important it is to seek after God and be righteous before Him!
God is a spirit and they that worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). We cannot worship ignorantly like the people in Athens nor bow down to the golden calf like the people of Israel when Moses went up Mount Sinai for the ten commandment tablets (Exodus 32). We need to seek after the true living God and in Him only do we serve!