In what ways can we "smash the altars" in our own lives today? The Call to Smash Altars—Deuteronomy 12:3 “Instead, you must tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, cut down their Asherah poles, and burn up their carved images.” Ancient Altars, Eternal Principles • Altars in Canaan represented loyalty to rival gods. • Physical destruction safeguarded Israel from compromise. • The command reveals God’s jealousy for exclusive worship (Exodus 20:3; Deuteronomy 6:13-15). What Modern Altars Look Like • Obvious idols: horoscopes, lucky charms, occult symbols. • Subtle idols: career status, entertainment, sports, politics. • Internal altars: envy, lust, bitterness, pride (Colossians 3:5). • Cultural altars: social media acclaim, consumerism, relativism. Recognize and Name the Idols • Test affections: whatever consistently outranks time with God can become an altar (Matthew 6:21, 24). • Note emotional triggers: jealousy, anger, or fear often expose hidden worship. • Compare priorities with the first commandment (Exodus 20:3). Five Practical Steps to Smash Personal Altars 1. Identify – Ask the Spirit to spotlight anything competing with Christ’s lordship (Psalm 139:23-24). 2. Repent – Agree with God’s verdict; turn from the idol (Acts 3:19). 3. Remove – Delete, discard, unfollow, resign, or re-schedule as needed. Gideon tore down Baal’s altar at night (Judges 6:25-27). 4. Replace – Fill the cleared space with worship, Scripture, fellowship, and service (Romans 12:1-2). 5. Re-declare – Regularly confess Jesus’ supremacy (Joshua 24:15; Hebrews 13:15). Guarding the Cleared Ground • Keep short accounts with God through daily confession (1 John 1:9). • Cultivate accountability; isolation breeds relapse (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10). • Memorize truth that counters the old lies (2 Corinthians 10:5). • Celebrate victories; thanksgiving cements new patterns (Psalm 92:1-2). Scripture’s Encouraging Examples • King Asa “removed the foreign altars and high places” and “commanded Judah to seek the LORD” (2 Chronicles 14:3-4). • Hezekiah “broke into pieces the bronze serpent Moses had made” when it became an idol (2 Kings 18:4). • The Ephesian believers burned occult scrolls worth a fortune (Acts 19:18-20). Living in Continuous Freedom • Liberty is maintained, not automatic (Galatians 5:1). • Worship redirects desires toward God, keeping new altars from forming. • Hope rests in Christ’s finished work; His grace empowers every demolition and rebuild (Titus 2:11-14). Closing Thoughts Smashing altars is more than a one-time purge; it becomes a lifestyle of vigilant devotion. When we decisively remove every rival, we experience the joy of wholehearted worship, echoing God’s ancient call with fresh obedience today. |
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