Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: DEFENSE (06/02/22)
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TITLE: What Is Truth? | Previous Challenge Entry
By Marlene Custer
06/08/22 -
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Demetrios looked up abruptly as the noise of a crowd drew closer. He stopped at the edge of the dusty, dirt road, his eyes searching the crowd. He turned to a man standing nearby, and nodding toward the group, asked, “Is that small fella with the prominent nose the one proclaiming all these new ideas?”
Demetrios stretched his neck as the man answered, “Yeah, the scrappy-looking one there in the middle. I understand he was run out of Philippi. Ever since he came here he has been talking to anyone who will listen. He’s been up at the synagogue, and some philosophers asked him to come debate at the Areopagus.”
As the crowd pushed by, Demetrios joined in. When they assembled at their destination, he worked his way in closer. He wanted to hear clearly. He eyed Paul, who was standing as tall as he could, looking out over the crowd. For a moment, their eyes locked. He cringed momentarily as Paul bellowed out loudly, “I see that you are a very religious bunch. As I walked through your city and looked at your objects of worship, I saw that you had covered your bases well with an inscription: ‘to an Unknown God’.” He paused, then continued, “Now, I’m going to tell you Who that God is!”
Demetrios shifted from one foot to the other and diverted his eyes to quickly scan the crowd’s reaction. He refocused as Paul continued passionately, “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth. He doesn’t need your temples built by your hands. He created and controls everything—from ancient times He has controlled people and nations, where they would live and how long.”
Demetrios, feeling as though he were the only one present, focused on Paul’s words, “The Creator God, sent Jesus who will one day judge the world. And the proof of this is Jesus was crucified, buried, and then God raised Him from the dead.” Excitement coursed through Demetrios’ body. Yes! This feels like the truth I have been searching for.
Some in the crowd began sneering and turned to leave. But Demetrios stepped in closer as a few implored, “We want to hear more.”
Paul concluded his argument by proclaiming that after His resurrection, Jesus appeared to the Twelve, to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, and last of all to him, personally.
Paul didn’t stay in Athens long after that encounter. Demetrios sought out other believers and met regularly to search the Scriptures. Following Paul’s pattern they continually told others about Jesus, the One sent by the Creator, to die, be buried, and to rise again. He is our Hope. No further defense was needed!
Fiction based on Acts 17:16-34 (NIV), 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 (NIV)
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