03/27/2026 – “Altars on the High Places” / Jeremiah 32:35; Romans 12:1; Ephesians 5:2 / Day 242 / Comments below… Connections to Mark 10: 17-22.
“We were standing on top of what was less than a mountain and more than a hill, and not quite either. The teacher led me over a stone platform or, rather, to the remains of what had once been a stone platform.
“What is it?” I asked.
“It’s the ruins of an altar,” he said, “It was one of the many altars erected on high places.”
“Altars to …”
“Baal, Molech, Ashtoreth, Zeus, and a multitude of other gods and idols.”
“Altars for …”
“Sacrifices. You see, they not only set up idols on the high places – but altars. Every god had an altar and every altar required a sacrifice.”
“How does this relate?” I asked. “The altars are non or they lie in ruins.”
“No,” he said. “The altars are very much here, just as are the gods and idols. Remember what we spoke of. Whether or not people call the gods they worship ‘gods’ or the idols they serve ‘idols’ doesn’t change the fact that they’re worshipping gods and serving idols. Whatever you put first, above everything else, that’s your god. Whatever you serve, whatever you life for, whatever it is that drives you, that’s your idol… whether your idol is money or pleasure, success, beauty, comfort, power, possessions, a career, an object, a goal, or your own self… whatever you put first and serve, that’s your god and idol. But here’s what you must always remember – every god and idol has an altar.”
“What does that mean?”
“There is always a cost to serving them, there’s a price to the idols and gods. There’s always an altar. And the altar will always require a sacrifice. Some will require the sacrifice of your peace; others will require the sacrifice of your health, your marriage, your time, your family, your integrity, your well-being… And the more you serve them, the more you must sacrifice.”
“But doesn’t God also have an altar and require a sacrifice?”
“Yes,” said the teacher. “God does have an altar, but not like any other. You see, on all the other altars of this world, man sacrifices for his gods. But on God’s altar, it is God who sacrifices Himself for man. It is God Himself who is the sacrifice. Therefore, you must no long sacrifice and give yourself to any of the Gods… except for One, the one and only God who gave Himself as a sacrifice for you.” The Mission: Are there any idols or gods in your life, anything you’re following above God? Smash the altars of those gods. And live free, , wholly to Him who gave Himself wholly to you.”
Jeremiah 32:35; Romans 12:1; Ephesians 5:2
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Insert:
“Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed (*below) by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” Romans 12: 1-2
(*) In the Greek bible, the word is “metamorphoo”, yes, our English word of metamorphosis, as in caterpillar to butterfly.
I recall Timothy Keller’s commentary in his book; “Jesus the King”, on Mark 10: 17-22. Jesus tells him, “You lack one thing: God, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. ” But he grieved as he walked away. How sad! Jesus recognized his wealth was a stronghold, it was his “idol”.
Keller pointed out one thing that was truly interesting. In verse 21, it says that Jesus loved him. Jesus loves everyone, but I can’t recall another instance where the Bible notes of his love for an individual. Keller projects Jesus too was the rich young ruler, he had been with the Father and the Holy Spirit in a perfect agape love circle through all of eternity. But he gave it all up with the incarnation to save us!