High places

Israel fell into the pagan practices of neighboring nations. On hills and under spreading trees they built altars to the gods Molek, Baal, Ashteroth, Zeus and more. Each altar required a sacrifice. Israel sacrificed their sons and daughters to Molek and had sex with temple prostitutes to satisfy Ashteroth. Even though Hezekiah smashed down the idols and destroyed the altars, the sacrifice continues, even to today. A sacrifice is whatever it is in our lives that takes the place of our Creator God and Savior–power, money, sex, pleasure, success, beauty, comfort, wealth. There is a price to pay for the idols in our lives–your peace, health, integrity, marriage, family, and other relationships.

Our churches have altars in them, but it is not our sacrifice that is required. God sacrificed His one and only Son on an old rugged cross for the forgiveness of our sins so we could live with Him and for Him for eternity. We have an inheritance in the Kingdom of God, and it starts the moment you believe in Jesus as our Savior.

THINK ABOUT IT

Are there idols or gods in your life? Things that take you away from the worship and commitment to your life with God? He loves you and wants you to be in relationship with Him by reading His word, talking with Him in prayer and reaching out to others so they might be drawn to God. What is your response to God’ amazing love?

Paul said, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God–this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:1-2).

PRAY ABOUT IT

Father God, thank you for Jesus and the sacrifice He made to give us a life with you. Help us to be beacons of your light and love in this world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

How many of you go to the mountains to escape the chaos of the cities in the valley? Many retreats and conferences are set in lovely mountain locations. Jesus took Peter, James and John to the top of Mount Hermon where they witnessed Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus. Our mountaintop experiences may not hold the significance of Mount Hermon, but we still want to linger there. Jesus led His three friends back into the valley where they faced a desperate father. The man had taken his demon possessed son to the other disciples, but they could not deliver the boy. Jesus had compassion on the father and healed his son. The disciples asked Jesus why they couldn’t help the boy, and He told them this kind of sickness required prayer and fasting (Mark 9:14-23). Perhaps mountaintop experiences are not only for escapes, but they are meant to empower us to do wonderful things in ministry. Jesus said we would do even greater things than He. Only with His strength working in us!

Man has always had an attraction to high places. In ancient Israel, people walked away from the Holy God and worshipped man-made idols–Molech, the cow god; Asherah poles; and Ishtar, the fertility god. They did this on the high places and under every spreading tree (2 Kings 16:4).

Man’s attraction to high places extended into their building projects. They built the Tower of Babel in the plain of Shinar, not to give glory to God, but to make a name for themselves. The same spirit of pride has infiltrated the building of skyscrapers over the whole earth. While building tall buildings is not evil, in and of itself, we have to evaluate the intent. After Israel was defeated, her inhabitants said, “The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with dressed stone; the fig trees have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars” (Isaiah 9:10). These are not the words of self-evaluation for why they experienced defeat or repentance for their sin, but these are words of defiance–defiance to enemies and to God.

THINK ABOUT IT

Consider for a moment what happened after 9/11/2001 on American soil. The Governor of New York made this proclamation from the floor of Ground Zero: “Today, we, the heirs of that revolutionary spirit of defiance, lay this cornerstone.” A beautiful quarried stone was laid as the cornerstone of a building to replace one of the towers. The project faced many problems, and it was finally cancelled (The Harbinger by Jonathan Cahn).

PRAY ABOUT IT

O Lord, forgive our nation for its sins of pride, arrogance and defiance. We pray for revival–that our nation will repent and return to You, most Holy God. Empower us to lead in the revival so many will come to know your love and experience eternal life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Tag: High places

High Places