Apollo
Nope, not the Greek God, and definitely not some intergalactic meteor-powered uranium gas station in the ‘near future’ AD 2145. The name seems to give the concret impression of an all mighty person who has control over his life as well as others. Sweet, but not true.
We are talking about a man who chose to spread his wisdom instead of opting for a chance to deepen his understanding. A man who had talent, knowledge and wisdom that came with it, but was of no use to his fellow people until he turned the corner. This man was a Christian named Apollo. Today I had to sit through the sermon listening to the pastor talk about this one man, and the whole 1 1/2 hours was spent on 3-4 verses about Apollo. however, even with the heavy laden eyelids as an after effect from the previous day’s exuberant and lavish adventures at Sentosa until late at night, I was unbelieveably attentive. There was something about Apollo.
The world has produced many ingenious minds capable pushing scientific boundaries to places beyond what is deemed as science fiction. These people are the pioneers of devastatingly profound inventions, albeit some which are trivial or frivolous in nature materialistically. Apollo was in their category. The bible says in Acts 18:24 that Apollo ‘was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures’ and ’spoke with great fervor’. His birthplace, Alexandria was a city known for its wealth of knowledgeable scholars, and Apollo was within their league. So throughout the sermon, why were the other scholors not mentioned? as with many scientists of modern times, Why do we not talk about them, but talk about scientist like Enstien, Newton, etc over and over again? What made them special must be what made Apollo special.
Apollo was within their league, able to explain and come out with the most comprehensive and accurate explanation of the things he knew, whether be it rebuking an incorrect perspective, etc. He probably could have gone on to become some well-known scholor, inventor, leader. However, that was not what he chose to do. Apollo chose for himself to step into the house of the people who told him his insight to our Father was ‘limited’. Apollo went with them, and within one night grew in strength and faith to the lord, becoming one of the wisest disciple of christianity. If Enstein were to be commented on one of his theories, he’d probably shut them up with the complexity of science and mechanics few have ever been able to claim knowledge of. Apollo had this stash, but he chose not to use it. Instead, he went to listen more about our God. If he never did, his knowledge might have been apt, his wisdom overflowing, his knowledge in the truth, the way and the life would not have been the same. He flows of knowledge and wisdom, but it may not have been the truth.
Apollo has taught me some lessons which pertains to people of our generation, one of them stands out:
Listen to those who are willing to comment on you. It is easy to shun away from advice, especially from people deemed ‘less smart’, people of ‘lesser status’, or even older generations who don’t seem to understand that the world is moving. But these people are the very people that have walked miles before you even learnt to walk. These are the people that experienced things before you even opened your eyes. 20 years of ‘generation gap’ is actually 20 year of culminating knowledge to be had. Besides, God can use anyone to speak to you. There was once I felt the church was so far away from me, the people not within my grasp, that I was not part of the church. When I felt so low that I was even considering leaving, one of the kids came over, asking why I ’don’t wanna play’.
“Cause nobody wants to play with me?”
He hesitated. Then, he replied, “I’m here! Let’s play!”
If God can use Pilate to write on the signboard that Jesus IS the King of Jeruselum, AND use it to save a thief, let us listen more. Then we shall hear his will, the way, the truth, the life. If the lost, hungry and thristy cannot find where the river of life is by sight, they listen out for the flow of the river.
