In the Beginning II…
Build an Altar Unto God
Yesterday, we welcomed ourselves to a new beginning. We encouraged ourselves to decide to begin with God and go all the way with Him. Work more on yourself and endeavour to achieve the best in the New Year.
There are things that you need to do in times of beginning like this. One of such is to build AN ALTAR unto God just like Abraham did, ‘So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him’ (read the full account in Genesis 12). It is important that you build an altar to have a relationship with God and connect to God that has brought you to the new beginning. It was recorded for Abraham that for most of his beginnings, he always build an altar unto the Lord. Whether he just moved to a new location or had a fresh encounter with God which was to usher in a new realm of relationship with God etc. Abraham will always build an altar unto the Lord.
An altar is a place of worship; a sacred and dedicated place for the purpose of worship. In the new testament, when we speak of altar, we don’t speak of a physical thing alone although it is part of it. Rather, we speak of your relationship with God, that point of communion – the heart. While the physical is important, the non-physical which is the heart is most important. Altar is the meeting point between Divinity and humanity.
In times like this, build an altar unto God. You need to know God – that’s who you are building altar unto. The essence is to commune with God and even lay-up yourself for sacrifice unto the Lord for no altar exist without sacrifice. When you release yourself unto God wholly, you allow Him work in you and on you; He breaks you to what He desires. Remember the altar is unto the Lord and not unto self, therefore, allow God to achieve His purpose of fellowship.
Also, every altar is built with ingredients such as wood, animal among others. You remember the story of Elijah (read 1 Kings 18:16-38), any altar without the right ingredient will not bring God to participate because He is truthful to His word.
Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has a clean hands and a pure heart, who does not life up his soul to an idol, or swear by what is false (Psalm 24:3-4)
The foundation of is to give your life unto God and lay-up your life totally on the altar so that He can rid you of the works of flesh. Also, through fervent prayer, a life of faith which is gotten via the word of God (Romans 10:17), a life of obedience and led by the spirit (Romans 8:14) and a life that give unto God and men with the right attitude and motive.
You have started yet another year and God is calling you to build Him an altar that He wants to connect with you, He require that you raise an altar that will be devoid of self and flesh, an altar that will burn unto Him the right smoke and not a ‘strange smoke’. Just like He came to Adam and Eve at the cool of the day, He is calling out to you. We encourage you to determine to build an altar so that your fire can keep burning. Forget the past years, God is calling you to come as you are but never remain as you are. Only then can you live that exact life He desires for you this year.
Accept Him into your life by confessing Him with your mouth, believing in your heart that God raised Him from the dead and forsake your ways. Call Him to be the Lord of your life. If you have accepted Him into your life and your fire is burning, there is need to keep burning. Don’t neglect this call. God bless you even as you yield your heart unto God.
