Moving Altars? Could it be a problem?

I tell you, I just am amazed at the Tabernacle...for those of you who know me this is a real passion for me...Last night in teaching about the Brazen Altar which is the first piece of furniture to contend with once entering through the door of the area, I am just amazed at the length to which Jesus has gone for us. Having taken on the form of man, and died for us is really just jaw dropping when we think of it.

Last night in teaching about the altar specifically, there was a situation in 2 kings 16, that just amazed me... King Ahaz of Israel had gone to visit a pagan King and was enamored by an altar that he had seen while he was in Assyria. He had the priests of Israel built an exact replica of it and when he returned home he further instructed the priests to burn all the sacrifices required by God on it INSTEAD of the altar God had ordained. King Ahaz then moved God's altar out of the way and this 'better' altar was used.

How many times do we put God off? Off to the side for what the world has declared as a better mode of communicating and worshipping Him. How drawn away from the purity of true religion are we after things that our secular world says is better, bigger, more glorious?

It's so easy to get caught up in the fantastic...the sensual...the glory of the world and give it a nice coating of 'God' and even set it up in the place of God and 'intend' to sacrifice to God by means of it...

King Ahaz's intention, was insufficient. Regardless of where it was positioned. It didn't matter that it was set up in God's Courts, or that the prescribed sacrifices were placed on it...That didn't justify or sanctify it...

At the end of Ahaz's life, the Bible records him as a King given to idolatry and one who did evil in the sight of the Lord.

I want to make sure whether something is traditional or modern - that I am NOT moving aside God's prescribed and ordained manner for my own desires....


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