PASTOR’S CORNER, Pat Mann, Chaplain, Liberal Good Samaritan Center, Liberal
Malachi 3:7 (King James Version) – “Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts.”
There are occasions when a believer’s zeal for God does not shine as brightly as it once did. A mother of a young boy once told me that when her son returned from a week’s Christian summer camp, having become a believer in Jesus at that time, he was highly inspired and interested in all things spiritual. As time passed, and having returned to normal day-to-day life, his light slowly began to grow dimmer, and his zeal for God waned.
Christian summer camp directors and planning committees work to bring in the best speakers, teachers, musicians, missionary speakers, activity directors, counsellors, and, not the least of which – the best cooks. The main goal is to lead people to Christ and help young people find some direction for their future.
Christian summer camp is indeed a mountain-top spiritual experience. So, how can a person keep the spiritual fires glowing when the great speakers, missionaries, musicians, activities, counsellors, and great cooks are not there anymore? That is not the time to drop out of regular church attendance. That is not the time to close the BOOK and leave it lay on the table unopened. When one’s spiritual lamp is burning low, it’s time to go to the altar for a refill.
When the Israelites returned to their home after 70 years of captivity, they found that the walls of the city and the Temple of God were in ruins. They began to rebuild. They began with the altar. That was the right place to begin. What things can happen at an altar?
Here are a few things that can happen so that the spiritual fires do not go out or to rekindle the spark:
At an altar, you can…
• Wholeheartedly acknowledge God.
• Confess sins and receive forgiveness.
• Make requests to God.
• Seek and discover God’s will.
• Offer gifts to God.
• Intercede on behalf of others.
• Worship the Lord Jesus and speak praises to God the Father.
• Receive spiritual and physical healing.
• Recharge your spiritual flame.
• Return to God, and God will return to you.
So, where is the altar? Many churches have prayer benches where people can come together or individually and have a meeting with God. Hopefully you have a selected place in your own home where you meet with God. I remember my mother’s home altar was in a rocking chair by a table with a lamp and a Bible. An altar could be a bedside or a kitchen table. Some people retreat to their vehicle to find a quiet place. Others enjoy sitting outside to enjoy God’s creation while they meet with Him.
So where is the mountain-top experience of the altar? Where are the great speakers, missionaries, musicians, etc.? The mountain-top is experienced when you begin to see your prayers being answered, and when you see that things are changing. A former pastor used to say, “Things happen when I pray that don’t happen when I don’t.”
So, do you need a “recharge” today? One week at a Christian summer camp likely won’t last all year. I remember that my church used to have a two-week revival every year. Later, that was reduced to a one-week revival, and even more, today it is popular to just have a week-end revival. Do you see a pattern here? Do you see the light slowly growing dim? The altar is the answer. Daily is also the answer. A daily meeting with the Heavenly Father will keep the fire from going out. The sparkle may even glow brighter day by day.
Warning!! Your adversary, the Devil, will be busy to keep you from having that altar time with the Lord. He will make sure you are “too busy,” “too tired,” etc. He will use anything or anyone close to you to keep you from that altar appointment. He knows your light will not go out when you are faithful, and his plan will be quenched.
“Return unto me, and I will return unto you,” saith the Lord of hosts.
