We Have An Altar

Our Winter Bible School started last evening. For years, it was every Tuesday and Thursday night for five weeks. Last year it was changed to every Wednesday night but stretched out over a longer period of eight weeks. That is nicer for families with school children. I well remember the hassle of getting a family ready to go. Living in a one-bathroom house, they had to start going through as soon as they got home from school. We rarely missed a night. Looking back, I wonder now how we did it. Now that we only have two people to get ready, going two nights a week would not be a problem. 

The subject last night was "We Have An Altar." The speaker began in Deuteronomy 27 where Moses  gave the children of Israel God's instructions to build an altar after they entered the promised land. It was to be made of whole stones that had not been touched with an iron tool. The outside was to be plastered so the law could be written on it. Joshua 8 tells how this was done exactly as God had told Moses.

The altar was built of whole stones and inscribed with the law (or Ten Commandments) which distinguished it from the altars of the heathen. The appearance of the altar was a reminder of separation from the heathen and the law was the basis of their covenant relationship with God. In the New Testament, Christians are also called to separation from the world. The Word of God is the basis of our belief and the new covenant in Christ.

The altar Joshua built was used to offer sacrifices. These were only a temporary fix until the ultimate sacrifice of Christ. Hebrews 13:10 says "we have an altar" in Christ that far surpasses Joshua's altar. It is for all people of all times. 

Animal sacrifices are no longer necessary, but Christians also need to offer sacrifices to God. These are two basic categories. 

1. Our lives (Romans 12:1). The problem with a living sacrifice is that it wants to keep crawling off the altar. It must be put back on and offered daily as long as we live. How that is done will vary with each person and their situation, but it affects every area of our lives---time, finances, activities, speech, dress, etc. Living by the Word of God inscribed on our altar will result in separation from the world in practice and appearance. We will look and act different than the world. 

2. The sacrifice of praise (Hebrews 13:15). This verse says the sacrifice of praise is to be continual, daily and in all circumstances. Even in the worst of circumstances, there is always something to be thankful for because we are secure in Christ. 

"Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places" (Habakkuk 3:17-19).

What are you offering on your altar today?