In Acts 17:30, the Apostle Paul told the learned philosophers of Athens, Greece that God once overlooked the times of ignorance but now commands all people everywhere to repent. By that, Paul does not mean that God excused their ignorance. God did not break in upon them before the Gospel age but gave them over to the lusts of their hearts (Romans 1; Acts 14:16).

Satan exerts every influence he can to keep people from repenting. He knows that those who live a penitent life and are faithful to God are out of his reach. A penitent person is one who has godly sorrow for their sins and decides to turn from them and do God’s will.

In Acts 17:31, Paul tells them of the importance of coming to repentance concerning a life lived in ignorance of God and His will. The reason being, Paul said, was that God has “appointed a day on which He will judge the world.”

The One who will be the judge on that day will be “the Man whom He has ordained” to judge. God assures us that there will come such a day and the One who will judge will be the One whom He raised from the dead (v. 31). Of course, Paul spoke of Jesus.

A judgment in righteousness will be a judgment of condemnation of the unrighteous. The goodness of God cannot lead any to repentance who “thinks little of the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering” (Romans 2:4). God is a patient God who mercifully gives us time to repent, not wanting any to perish and go to hell. Turn to Him now while you have the time. Tomorrow may be too late.