Restoring the Sanctity of the Altar

The altar has always been a sacred place, a holy meeting ground where humanity encounters the Divine. Throughout scripture, the altar represents a place of sacrifice, worship, and transformation. Yet, in modern times, its sanctity has been diluted, its significance diminished. It is time to restore the altar—not just in our churches, but in our hearts, our homes, and our daily lives.

The Biblical Significance of the Altar

From the days of Abraham to the ministry of Jesus, the altar has been a place of deep spiritual encounters. In Genesis 12:7-8, Abraham built an altar to the Lord as a declaration of faith and obedience. In 1 Kings 18, Elijah repaired the broken altar of Israel before calling down the fire of God. These examples remind us that the altar is a place of surrender, a space where God responds to the cries of His people.

When the temple was built, the altar remained central to worship. The priests offered sacrifices there, and the people sought God’s mercy and presence. But when Jesus came, He became the ultimate sacrifice, making the altar no longer a place of bloodshed, but of spiritual renewal. Hebrews 13:10 reminds us, "We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat." This speaks to the deeper, eternal significance of the altar in Christ.

The Erosion of Reverence

In many churches today, the altar has become just another piece of furniture. The sacred space where sinners once knelt in repentance, where intercessors travailed for the lost, and where worshippers poured out their hearts has been replaced with casual familiarity. Instead of a place of transformation, it has become a stage for performance, a platform for entertainment.

We must ask ourselves: Have we lost our reverence for the altar? Have we traded sacred encounters for mere routine? Romans 12:1 calls us to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God. If the altar is no longer a place of surrender, how can we expect God’s fire to fall as it did for Elijah?

Restoring the Sacredness

Restoring the sanctity of the altar requires intentionality. First, we must return to a posture of reverence. The altar is not about us—it is about God. Whether we approach it in a church building or in the quietness of our prayer closet, we must recognize it as holy ground. Exodus 3:5 reminds us of God’s command to Moses: "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground."

Second, we must teach the next generation the significance of the altar. Just as Joshua built memorial stones to remind Israel of God's faithfulness (Joshua 4:6-7), we must pass on the sacredness of the altar experience. The next generation must see it as more than a tradition; they must witness its power firsthand.

Finally, we must make room for true altar encounters. This means prioritizing prayer, making space for repentance, and inviting the Holy Spirit to move freely. We cannot dictate how God moves, but we can prepare a place for Him. In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God gives us a promise: "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

A Call to Return

The altar is calling. It is calling us back to holiness, back to reverence, back to the presence of God. Will we answer? Will we restore its sanctity in our hearts and in our churches? Or will we continue to treat it as ordinary?

May we once again approach the altar as a sacred meeting place, where heaven touches earth and lives are forever changed. Let us kneel in surrender, worship in awe, and restore the sanctity of the altar in our generation.

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." – Psalm 51:10