Two Altars
Before the days of natural gas grills the majority of us simply stacked charcoal briquettes in the form of a blackened Mayan pyramid. This was followed by liberally dousing the “steps” of the pyramid with copious amounts of lighter fluid. Opening a box of Penley Strike Anywhere Matches, or Ohio Blue Tip Matches, we retrieved a match, taking care to safely close the box. Turning the box sideways, we narrowed our focus on the striking surface strip, in order to drag the tip of the match quickly across its surface. Performed correctly the match would quickly explode into a flame. Seasoned grillers learned quickly that following the burst of flame they would toss the match onto the briquettes with one single flick of the wrist….and ran like the blazes. Many novice priests to the charcoal altar typically lingered longer than they should have resulting in a burnt offering of hair and flesh on the steps of the Briquette Mayan Altar. The “burnt offering” was typically received by the grill god resulting in various meats being eaten and jubilantly received by all.
Hebrews 13:9-10 refers to 2 different types of altar in which sacrifices were typically offered: Do not be carried about by different and varied and alien teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established and ennobled and strengthened by means of grace (God’s favor and spiritual blessing) and not [to be devoted to] foods [rules of diet and ritualistic meals], which bring no [spiritual] benefit or profit to those who observe them. We have an altar from which those who serve and worship in the tabernacle have no right to eat.
One of those altars was reserved strictly for the Jewish Priesthood who dutifully offered the prescribed animal to its flames. This altar was one alien to most Gentile followers of Jesus ruled solely by rituals, fear and commands to be followed to the minutest detail. The altar of verse 10, however, was one of Grace that established, ennobled, and strengthened the heart of the worshipper. Both altars burned with fire. But only one altar caused your heart to catch fire. The former, simply left the heart of priest and worshipper weary from meaningless observance of ritual.
The question I want you to pray through today is, Which altar have you been sacrificing at? The Altar of ritual, commands, and lifeless observance or the Altar of Grace which causes its worshippers to catch fire with love, and a life for Jesus? Has your heart ever burned brightly for Jesus?
