Topic: WHERE IS YOUR ALTAR? – Bishop Mike Okonkwo Devotional 17 July 2021 [The Redeemed Evangelical Mission]
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WHERE IS YOUR ALTAR?
‘’And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.‘’ Genesis 8:20-21 KJV
There is something that intrigues me about this passage of the scriptures. Understand that at this time, the whole earth had been wiped out. No pattern! No template! No building! No road, and nothing to copy from. But, here was God dropping Noah and his family in the middle of nowhere. The question would be: “Where am I going to start from?’’ You would have felt the same if you were in such situation.
Sometime ago, I went to break the news of the death of a preacher to his wife and children. The woman sighed and said, ‘’where am I going to start from?’’ That is where believers miss it. This is when you come to a point in your life where your back is against the wall, when this question comes to everyone: ‘’where will I start from?’’ That was Noah’s plight! He had never experienced this. No one gave him any example. But when eventually the flood receded, and they landed, he did something that we have to learn from.
The children must have said, ‘’dad, we have to build a house. We have to get food to eat first.’’ But he said: ‘’No! We will build an altar first.” For most us, we only remember the altar when we have tried everything and failed. That is wrong! First thing first! Altars give you foundation to build upon. Victory, peace, deliverance comes from the altar. Where is your altar? Where is your sacrifice? Always remember that it is because of the Lord’s mercy that we are not consumed. Let us honour Him.
Further Reading: Genesis 8:1-22
Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Psalms 18-19; Evening- Acts 20:17-38