A Closer Look: Rebuild the Altars

            I’ve always loved the story of the prophet Elijah against the prophets of the false god, Baal. It is a remarkable reminder not only of Who God is, but also of His unparalleled power. This story is found in 1 Kings 18:17-40.

            At this time, Israel was under the rule of evil King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. Violently opposed to the God of the Israelites and those who served Him, they had torn down all the Lord’s altars on which the Israelites would offer sacrifices to Him.

            Elijah, the prophet of God challenged King Ahab to see who the one true God was – the God of Israel, or the idol, Baal, that the king and queen worshiped. Atop Mount Carmel, (not Caramel, though that does sound nice ;) Elijah faced off against hundreds of prophets of their false gods. The rules were simple: the prophets would call on Baal, and Elijah would call on God. Whoever consumed with fire his sacrifices offered by his people would be the true God.

            As we know, the God of Elijah was the only one who answered his people’s prayers and consumed a soaking-wet sacrifice and altar with fire. What an awesome story!

           Replacing God

 

            What I want to focus on is 1 Kings 18:30. It says, “… And he [Elijah] repaired the [old] altar of the Lord that had been broken down [by Jezebel]” (AMP). Before God did a mighty work, Elijah first had to rebuild the altar that had been torn down.

We have altars in our lives, too. These altars are how you serve the Lord; upon them you sacrifice your time, efforts, talents, etc. to Him. Are there any altars in your life have fallen into disrepair from lack of use?

            Are you giving God your all and serving Him in every way you can? Or have some altars in your life been torn down?

            Society has tried to replace God in every way possible, thereby displaying a form of idolatry. Instead of celebrating Christ’s birth at Christmas and His death and resurrection at Easter, they have made these occasions about Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, respectively.

Rather than trusting an omniscient, loving God to guide one’s life, they look to the stars and astrology for guidance. Pantheist (those who worship nature) replace the Creator with the creation.

Secular culture no longer sees a rainbow as a symbol of a God’s covenant with man to never flood the earth again (see Genesis 9:13-17). Instead, it is used as a symbol of lifestyles that contradict God’s ways and instruction.

            In a way, we also replace God with other “idols” in our lives. Whenever we choose to sin or go our own way instead of God’s, we replace God’s authority with our own. When we decide to scroll through social media instead of spending time with God when we know we should, we put other things above God.

            So, how do we avoid this idolatry and make God our top priority?

Rebuild the Altars

 

Rebuilding the altars to God in your life may look something like swapping some screen time for prayer or devotions. Maybe it is being more careful about your music and entertainment choices that aren’t God-honouring. Perhaps it’s obeying God’s call to sacrifice unforgiveness and instead love others the way He loves them.

As we saw in 1 Kings 18, once the altar was rebuilt and God was the top priority, God’s wonder-working power was displayed. All that was required was a shift in priority. Instead of bowing to powerless idols such as Baal, Elijah made God his top priority by rebuilding His altar and sacrificing upon it.

When the people turned away from their distractions and false gods the Lord revealed Himself to them and saved Israel from their wickedness. (This story began a chain of events that would lead to a righteous ruler on Israel’s throne and the destruction of Baal-worship.)

Let me encourage you to rebuild the altars in your life that have been torn down and make God your top priority today. Once you do this, you will see God move in astounding ways.

Let’s do it together.

-Olivia

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