Leaving Athens

Today was the first day of the 2012 at least in terms of LifeGate Church.  We have taken residency of Veterans Park Elementary School and looking to be a light into that immediate community.  Tucked in the message of my good friend Ashley Wilson was a statement that was as much a side note as anything, but it stood out like a flashing light blinding my eyes.

Ashley mentioned how the Apostle Paul worked and toiled in Athens to plant a church with very little success and he left Athens for Corinth.  It got me thinking about the Athens in our lives.  Athens is the places that we have labored, toiled, sweat, blood and tears poured out only to find little success.  Funny how Paul never mentions that Athens was a worthless venture, only that his work bore out little success.

Could it be that the Athens in our lives are preparations for the Corinth's to come?  In the sacred text of the good book we find two letters to the church at Corinth.  Those two books are filled with some wonderful praises for that group of saints and some pointed corrections for that same group of saints.  Yet we find no letter to Athens, no further mention of fledgling fellowship.

I have had Athens in my life.  Blood, sweat and tears and little success found.  Although Corinth might have been the 1st Centuries Las Vegas, Paul found success in the hearts and lives of those people.  The lights of the strip of Corinth could be blinding, but Athens has prepared my for what is ahead.  May the days ahead bring great fruit as we leave Athens and move to Corinth.