Joshua 8:30 “Now Joshua built an altar to the LORD God of Israel in Mount Ebal,”
Starting early in the book of Genesis, we find men, men of faith, building an ALTAR. Noah built an altar. Abraham built an altar. Issac built an altar. Jacob built an altar. Moses built an altar. And now we read that Joshua built an altar. The altar was NOT built TO BE worshiped but rather to focus the person’s heart and head on God. It was a symbol – a tool to be used. One would bow at the altar to worship the CREATOR.
This is not always the case, though. Some, yes, even many would build altars to worship the creation. Instead of worshiping the CREATOR, these would worship what they created. The Apostle Paul highlighted this in Romans 1:23, stating, “They changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man — and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”
Many have chosen to worship an idol instead of worshiping God. From fame, to fortune, to football (Did I just go there on this first full Saturday of College football?), something or someone has one’s heart.
The men we read of earlier built an altar for focusing on God, and at that altar, they could offer their praise to Him. It was not built so someone could look and say they see a god, but rather built to cause one to look to God.
Our heart today should be an altar. In our hearts, we bow down to the Creator and Redeemer. We don’t look to our hearts as a god but rather our hearts, belonging to God, worship Him.
Are you worshiping God who created and redeemed you or are you worshiping a god you have created?
1 John 5:21 says, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”
Continue Strong worshiping ONLY God,
And remember to DATE the Word