Restoring the Altar in Times of Apostasy

More than ever, we live in the reality of 2 Thessalonians 2, which refers to the great falling away or rebellion. The Greek word translated "e;rebellion"e; or "e;falling away"e; in verse 3 of the Scripture is apostasia, from which we get the English word apostasy. It refers to a general defection from the true God, the Bible, and the Christian faith. In such perilous times of deception and spiritual corruption, a great need exists to seek the Lord, follow His will, obey His truths and follow His narrow path of holiness. An altar represents a place of worship, sacrifice, devotion, and covenant. Throughout Scripture, altars were places where people met with God. However, there were also false altars. False altars are anything upon which we place our trust, affection, identity, or devotion above God. To restore the altar is to be a living sacrifice in service of God – a servant who will not compromise with the world and who seeks only to glorify God above all. It speaks about building one's life on the foundation of Jesus, finding one's liberty and salvation in Him, and seeking no other god or fool's gold. Ruins of false altars, shattered pillars, broken foundations, and uprooted, poisoned roots are the spiritual work God desires to accomplish in every believer's life. Before God builds, He often tears down. Before He plants, He uproots. Before He establishes truth, He exposes and destroys lies. Only when we restore the spiritual altar, where the fire of God's Spirit burns, can we walk in God's light, and in doing so, navigate the spiritual storms. More than ever, we need to abide in God, burn for God in His Spirit as a living sacrifice, and yield our lives to His will and truth.