Living on the Altar
Sacrifices normally take place on an altar; which is pretty much a kind of a modified and dedicated table. The animal is placed on the altar and it is stabbed to death. So, Paul invites us to become living sacrifices. We read in Romans 12:1,
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Let us consider what this would mean if it were literal. Once on the altar you stay there.
Since we die to self every day, we are stabbed every day. In fact, anytime self rises we are stabbed. What is required of us is willingness to let the Lord to stab us. We need to trust Him. This process is continued until we die the sleep death or are resurrected. This is necessary because in conversion only our mind changes our nature does not. The more we let the Lord stab us, the more we trust Him and love Him. When we repent our mind and our nature part ways; they are at war. This is a source of grief and suffering. Paul calls it a reasonable service.
It is in this continual process that our minds are renewed or transformed (Romans 12:2). In this process we offer proof of the goodness, perfection, and acceptable will of God. Others will see that although it is Christ doing the stabbing, He is doing it for our sake. They will see the results in us. It is what is necessary to save us. They see His love and compassion in His eyes. They see the stab wounds in His flesh. They realize He went through it, too. Paul says of Christ in the book of Hebrews,
Hebrew 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Hebrew 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
He went through the same process he puts us through. So, that he could be our help when we go through it. And, Paul adds in Hebrew 4:15,
Hebrew 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
So, He went through the process successfully. Those who are watching know that He can be trusted. When they see this they will crawl on the altar also.
Now, many answer the call, but once on the altar they get tired of the stabbing, struggle to set themselves free and crawl out of the altar. But, it is not really the stabbing that makes them leave. It is their distrust of Christ; it is unbelief. Most Israelites and Jews left the altar, because of unbelief (Hebrews 3: 19). Only a remnant stayed and the Gentiles were gladly climbing and staying on. The question to us, will we get on the altar and stay?
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Raul Diaz
www.wolfsoath.com
