Today’s selected reading continues in the Old Testament prophetic book of Lamentations, and more specifically, is found in the fourth chapter. This particular passage begins with an incredibly tragic statement that must be carefully considered. “How is the gold become dim! How is the most fine gold changed! The stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street. The precious sons of Zion, comparable to find gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!” (Lamentations 4:1-2). WHEN THE GOLD BECOMES DIM AND THE STONES OF THE SANCTUARY ARE POURED OUT! I can’t help but find these words to be incredibly tragic, for it reveals the utter and complete change that took place within the city of Jerusalem. The gold that was found within the city—that which was intended to shine brilliantly and give forth beauty and splendor had now become dim. The prophet Jeremiah recounted how the gold within the city had not only become dim, but had also changed. I happen to find this to be incredibly telling, for the prophet Jeremiah didn’t merely speak of the gold becoming dim, but the prophet also spoke of the gold changing. If you study the history of the southern kingdom of Judah—particularly the account of the Temple of the Lord—you will discover that the Temple of the Lord wasn’t destroyed by the Babylonians first, but began to be destroyed little by little from within. You will read how in order to satisfy that which had been imposed on the people of God, the gold from the Temple was stripped and given to their adversaries, their oppressors and their enemies. It is an incredibly dark and dangerous day when the gold of the Temple is stripped and removed in order to give to the enemy and adversary. Before the Temple of the Lord was ever destroyed and burned with fire and the vessels of the house of the Lord carried away by the Babylonians, the people of God within the land stripped the gold from the Temple in order that they might pay tribute to the enemy and adversary. There is a part of me that can’t help but wonder what the Temple even looked like by the time the Chaldeans invaded the land of Judah and burned the Temple to the ground with fire. How much gold was even left within and upon the Temple by the time the Chaldeans invaded the land and breached the city of Jerusalem? It’s worth noting and considering the fact that the Temple slowly began to be destroyed by the people of God before it was ever destroyed by the enemy and adversary. We dare not believe that the Chaldeans, or even the Romans were the ones who were solely responsible for destroying the first and second Jewish Temples—especially the Chaldeans—for the gold of the Temple was stripped in order that it might be given to the enemy and adversary.

 The prophet Jeremiah was incensed within his heart and soul, for he not only saw the gold becoming dim, but he also saw the stones of the sanctuary being poured out in the top of every street. This is worth noting and considering, for that which was consecrated as holy unto the Lord was being polluted, corrupted and defiled by the adversary. Both the stones and the gold of the Temple were consecrated as holy unto the Lord, thus indicating the the Temple was holy both within as well as without. The more I read and consider this passage of Scripture, the more I can’t help but get the strong sense that that which was holy and precious before and unto the Lord was being utterly and completely defiled and corrupted by the adversary. Jeremiah watched as the gold of the Temple slowly began to lose its ability to shine forth within the land, and as the Temple would and had become nothing more than a building and structure within the city. When the gold becomes dim and the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street, the Temple has become nothing more than a building and structure. Although the Temple was still that place the Lord had placed His name and where His presence once dwelt and abided, it had become just another building among all the other buildings and houses in the midst of the city of Jerusalem. WHEN THE TEMPLE BECOMES JUST ANOTHER BUILDING! WHEN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD BECOMES JUST ANOTHER HOUSE! The Temple of the Lord was intended to be the most magnificent building and structure within the entire land of Judah, yet the prophet Jeremiah watched as the Temple would no longer be what the Lord intended and designed it to be. The Temple of the Lord had become just another structure within the land—despite the fact that the Lord designed it to be that which would draw men and women from the nations and lands surrounding Israel. IT’s actually quite remarkable to consider the fact that the Temple was no longer that place which was the desire of the inhabitants of the nation, but was now the target and object of envy of the adversary. No more were men and women coming from among the nations to worship before the Lord within His courts, and at His holy altar, but now the enemy and adversary targeted the Temple for destruction. The gold of the Temple was no longer precious in the eyes of men, for the gold had become dim and had changed in its appearance.

 KEEP THE FIRE BURNING, KEEP THE GOLD SHINING! I can’t help but find a tremendous prophetic word that is contained within this passage of Scripture. If you journey back to the Old Testament book of Leviticus, you will discover the instruction of the Lord to the priests to keep the fire which burned upon the altar always and ever burning. In other words, the priests were responsible for ensuring the fire which burned upon the altar never went out, for it would be a tremendous tragedy if the fire upon the altar ever went out. It is a dark and dangerous days when the fire upon the altar ceases to burn—and not only when the fire ceases to burn, but also when the gold ceases to shine. When the Lord called for the Tabernacle to be constructed in the midst of His people, He intended that the fire which burnt upon the altar always be burning. When men and women would come into the courts of the Lord to present their offerings and sacrifices unto the Lord, they were supposed to see the fire ever burning upon the altar. Pause for a moment and consider what it could and would have been like to come into the courts of the Lord to present your offering as a sacrifice unto the Lord, and there was no fire burning upon the altar. WHEN THE OFFERINGS ARE BROUGHT TO THE ALTAR THE FIRE IS SUPPOSED TO ALREADY BE BURNING! When men and women enter into the courts of the Lord to present their offerings unto the Lord as a holy sacrifice, that was not the time to attempt to light the fire upon the altar. The fact that the fire was to continually be burning upon the altar suggests that at any given moment men and women could bring their offerings unto the Lord to be presented unto Him as a holy sacrifice. I can’t help but think what could and would have happened had men and women come to the Temple of the Lord and to an altar that had no fire burning upon it. The tragic reality surrounding these words is that these words describe countless houses of worship and churches today. There are countless men and women who come to the altar to present their offerings as sacrifices unto the Lord, and yet there is no fire burning upon the altar. Men and women come to the altar of the Lord with the desire and intention of presenting their offerings unto the Lord as sacrifices which are holy and pleasing in His sight, yet there is no fire burning upon the altar. Tell me—how can you think, hope and even expect to present and offering unto the Lord as a sacrifice when there is no fire. WHERE THERE IS NO FIRE THERE IS NO SACRIFICE! As priests and ministers of the Lord we are called to keep the fire ever and always burning upon the altar(s) of worship. We are supposed to always keep the fire burning upon the private altars within our homes, but we are also required to keep the fire burning upon the altar in the house of the Lord.

 Can I be incredibly bold, honest and real right now? There are many of us who put the unwarranted pressure and expectation of keeping the fire burning upon the altar in the sanctuary upon the minister(s), upon the leader(s), and even upon the pastor(s). The truth of the matter is that this expectation is not only unfounded, but also unwarranted and unnecessary. The minister(s) and leader(s) are not the only ones who are required and responsible for keeping the fire burning upon the altar within the sanctuary. If you gather together with fellow believers and brothers and sisters in any house of worship, you bear the responsibility of working side by side with others to keep the fire upon the altar within the sanctuary burning. It is not the pastor’s duty, nor is it his responsibility to keep the fire upon the altar continually burning. It is not the responsibility of the leaders of the church to keep the fire upon the altar continually burning within the sanctuary. There are countless men and women who expect the pastors, ministers and leaders of a church to keep the fire burning, and even place that burden and pressure upon them. The true reality that surrounds this is that we are all—each and every one of us who call on and believe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ—called to stand and serve before the Lord as His holy priests and ministers. As priests and ministers before the Lord our God, it is our responsibility to ensure that the fire upon the altar in the midst of the sanctuary never cease burning. If the fire which burns upon the altar in the midst of the sanctuary is beginning to go out, or if it has gone out altogether, we dare not fault the minister(s) alone for such a manifestation. It is the joint task and joint responsibility of each and every minister and priest of the Lord Jesus Christ to watch over the fire upon the altar, and to always ensure that it is continually burning before the Lord. I firmly believe that where there is no fire burning upon the altar, there can absolutely be no sacrifice before and unto the Lord God. In order for there to be a sacrifice made before and unto the Lord, there not only needs to be fire upon the altar, but there also needs to be an offering and offerings brought unto the Lord. It is only when the offering meets the fire and the fire consumes the offering that a sacrifice is made unto the Lord. As I’m sitting here right now, I can’t help but wonder at what point an offering becomes a sacrifice before and unto the Lord. Does an offering become a sacrifice when it is chosen from among the possessions of a man or women as that which will be brought unto the Lord? Does an offering become a sacrifice when it is carried by that man or woman as they make their way to the sanctuary of the Lord? Does an offering become a sacrifice when that one who brought it before and unto the Lord places their hand upon it and breaks its neck, thus killing it in the presence of the priests, and before the Lord of hosts? Does an offering become a sacrifice when it is placed upon the altar in the midst of the fire which is supposed to continually be burning upon the altar? Or, does an offering become a sacrifice when it is and has been utterly and completely consumed by the fire which burns upon the altar?

 At what point did Jesus become the sacrifice which was needed to make atonement for our sin, our transgression and our iniquity? The apostle Paul speaks of presenting our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable unto the Lord, and goes on to describe how it is our reasonable service, and spiritual act of worship. In the Old Testament, before the offering was placed upon the altar, it was already dead, for the neck of the lamb was broken, and the blood drained before the altar. One of the most important things we must recognize and understand concerning the altar of the Lord is that it wasn’t a clean, nor was it a pretty place when men and women came to it. The altar was a place where the scent of burning flesh continued to be present in the air. When men and women would come into the courts of the Lord unto the altar of the Lord, they would immediately be confronted with the smell of burning flesh, as offerings would be burned upon the altar in the midst of the flames. What’s more, is the altar was a place where the owner of the offering would place their hands upon that which was brought unto the Lord, and the neck of the offering was broken. The altar was a place where the blood of the offering was drained before the altar, and where the various parts of the offering were arranged upon the altar as a sacrifice before the Lord. The altar was a place of death; the altar was a place of burning flesh; the altar was a place of blood; the altar was a place of a stench that perhaps was unbearable to those who would enter into the courts of the Lord. I’m sitting here right now and I can’t help but consider the fact that the more one participates in the arrangement of the various parts of the offering upon the altar, the more that individual would grow comfortable and used to the smell of burning flesh upon the altar. This brings me to an incredibly important and powerful question that must be asked—How comfortable are you with sacrifice? How comfortable are you with the smell of burning flesh upon the altar in the midst of the fire? How comfortable are you with putting to death that which you have brought into the presence of the Lord as a sacrifice which is holy and acceptable before Him? There are those among us who are absolutely and completely uncomfortable with sacrifices and offerings, and are uncomfortable with the sight of blood and the scent of burning flesh. THE SIGHT OF BLOOD AND THE SCENT OF BURNING FLESH! I am convinced there are those among us who are uncomfortable with sacrifice because we are uncomfortable with the sight of blood and the scent of burning flesh. There are some among us who have a difficult time with the altar because the altar is not a place that is clean, neat and orderly—this despite the fact that there is order in how to handle the offering, and how to present it unto the Lord. The altar is a place of death; the altar is a place of fire; the altar is a place of blood; the altar is a place of burning flesh.

 One of the most intriguing realities I can’t help but consider is the sight men and women would experience as they made their way to the Temple of the Lord in the midst of Jerusalem. I can’t help but wonder what it would have been like to approach the city of Jerusalem, and to begin to approach the Temple of the Lord and witness the Temple glisten before you as the light from the Sun reflected upon and off of it. What an incredible and awesome sight it must have been to see the Temple of the Lord shine brilliantly before you as the light from the Sun would shine upon it, and as the Temple would reflect that light. What’s more, is that as you made your way to the Temple of the Lord, and specifically to the courts of the Lord, you would see the smoke from the altar rising into the air before you. Pause for a moment and consider what it would have been like to see the reflection of light radiating and emanating from the Temple, as well as the billow of smoke rising into the air. In other words, you would know you were fast approaching the courts of the Lord when the Temple radiated and reflected brilliant light before you, and as the sight of smoke continued to rise in the air. The closer you got to the Temple of the Lord, and as you prepared to enter into the courts of the Lord, you would see another sight before you—the fire which was burning upon and burning in the midst of the altar. As you began making your way to the Temple of the Lord, you would first be struck with the sight of the glory and radiance that emanated from the gold of the Temple. The close you got to the Temple, however, the more you would transition away from the radiance of the gold to the glow of the fire. Oh, how many men and women are drawn to the Temple of the Lord because of the radiance of the gold rather than the gold of the fire? How many men and women make it their primary focus and concern to shine only, yet make absolutely no effort to allow the glow of the fire to be seen or manifested. THE GLOW OF THE FIRE, THE SIGHT OF SMOKE, AND THE SCENT OF BURNING FLESH! You would know you were getting close to the Temple of the Lord when it would shine before you in radiance, in brilliance and splendor, yet you would know you were getting close to the courts of the Lord when both the fire and the smoke became visible. I believe with everything that’s inside of me that we dare not, we cannot, we must not be drawn only to the radiance and splendor of the Temple of the Lord, while Bering completely untouched and unmoved by the sight of the fire, the scent of burning flesh, and the presence of smoke. There are many men and women who appreciate the Temple because of it’s brilliance, its splendor, its radiance, yet care nothing for the presence of the altar, the sight of the fire, the scent of burning flesh, and the blood all around and before the altar

 How many of us want the gold without and apart from the fire? How many of us want the gold without and apart from the smoke? How many of us want the gold without and apart from the blood? How many of us want the gold without and apart from death? How many of us are more concerned with gold shining than we are with the fire burning? In all reality, the Temple of the Lord not only needs to radiate and reflect the splendor and majesty of the Son, but it also needs within it the fire burning upon the altar. The Temple of the Lord was to be a place that radiated the brilliance and splendor of the Lord, but it was also to be a place where the fire continually burned upon the altar, and sacrifices were made before the Lord continually. If you are drawn to the Temple of the Lord simply because of its appearance only, your experience with and your experience at the Temple will be one that is incredibly shallow before the Lord. If, however, you are drawn to the Temple because of the presence of the altar in the midst of the courts of the Lord, your experience can take on a whole different level. It is not enough to be drawn to the Temple because of it’s beauty, its splendor, its radiance, its brilliance before you, for if this is the case, you can never and will never be nothing more than a spectator and casual observer. In all reality, there are far too many casual observers and spectators that come to the Temple of the Lord because of its beauty, its radiance, its splendor, its brilliance, its appearance, rather than the altar which is present in the midst of the courts of the Lord. Those who approach the Temple merely because of its appearance will remain a safe distance from the Temple, and will never make their way into the courts of the Lord where the altar is. When you think of the Temple of the Lord, what is it that draws you to it? Is it the sight of the gold and the radiance that reflects forth from the gold, or is it the sight of the fire and the scent of burning flesh in the air? IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO SHINE ALONE, FOR WE MUST ALSO BURN! There are men and women among us who spend a considerable amount of time focusing on shining, yet they care absolutely nothing about burning before the Lord, and burning before others. SHINING DOESN’T INVOLVE SACRIFICE! SHINING DOESN’T INVOLVE DEATH! SHINING DOESN’T INVOLVE THE ALTAR! SHINING DOESN’T INVOLVE BLOOD! SHINING DOESN’T INVOLVE FIRE! There are men and women who are content shining, for they know that shining has never and will never require them to have any part with, at or before the altar. The altar is not a place of comfort, nor is it a place of convenience, for the altar is not a place where one comes to be spectator, but an active participant.

 THE ALTAR DEMANDS PARTICIPATION! There is absolutely no room or place at the altar for the causal observer, or the cautious spectator. If you enter into the courts of the Lord, and if you come before and unto His holy altar, you must come ready, willing and able to participate. The Lord required that no man come before and approach Him empty-handed, but it must also be understood that the Lord also required that men and women come into His courts to be active participants. The priest bore their responsibility and duty in ministering before the Lord with the blood of the offering, placing the offering upon the altar, arranging the parts of the offering upon the altar, but the one who brought the offering could not bring their offering to the courts of the Lord, hand it over to the priests, and then turn and walk away. How many of us treat the altar of the Lord in such a manner? We bring our offerings unto the Lord and we expect to simply drop the offering off in the courts of the Lord, and others do the work for us. We chose to not be an active participant in the presentation of an offering before the Lord, and we expect others to do the work for us. The priests of the Lord did have their responsibility with the offering once it was brought into the courts of the Lord, but that one who brought the offering must themselves lay their hands upon it, and break the neck of the offering. ARE YOU WILLING TO BREAK THE NECK OF THAT WHICH YOU HAVE BROUGHT UNTO THE LORD? Please note there is no drop off spot at the altar of the Lord. Please note there is no drop of spot in the courts of the Lord. The courts of the Lord have never and will never have a revolving door—meaning men and women exit as quickly as they enter. Oh, how many men and women are in a rush to exit the courts of the Lord? How many men and women are in a rush to leave the place of the altar—even though they may have brought an offering unto the Lord? There are men and women right now who are in a rush to leave the courts of the Lord, for they expect others to do the work of sacrifice for them. It is true that Jesus Christ offered Himself as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto the Lord for the pardoning of our sins and the redemption of our souls, but Jesus didn’t die on the cross so we could be spectators and observers only. Jesus didn’t die on the cross so we would never have to come unto and approach the altar. If this was true, and if this was the case, the apostle Paul would have never written concerning the presenting of our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable unto the Lord. One of our greatest problems is that we have relegated the act of sacrifice to Jesus only—not realizing, nor recognizing that we ourselves play a role and part in sacrifice. Sacrifice was never intended to be an isolated event in human history, as Jesus Christ offered Himself willingly as a sacrifice before His Father which was in heaven. Jesus didn’t die on the cross so we wouldn’t have to—He died on the cross to show us who. Jesus encouraged His followers, and even declared unto them, saying, that if any man would be His disciple, they must deny themselves, take up their cross and follow Him. Jesus didn’t take up His cross and carry it all the way to Calvary so we wouldn’t have to, but as an example for us that we are carry our own cross to the place of sacrifice.

 Jesus carried His cross to the place of death and sacrifice, and in like manner we are to carry our cross to the place of sacrifice and death. In the Old Testament men and women would bring their offerings to the courts of the Lord where they would put it to death, and then as the offering would be placed upon the altar in the midst of the fire. One thing that I can’t help but wonder is how many men and women actually stuck around until the offering was completely consumed by the fire which burned upon the altar. How many men and women stuck around long enough to put to death that which they brought to the Lord, for they were unwilling to remain at the altar any longer? How many men and women would remain at the altar a little while longer, for they would watch the blood being drained from the offering and poured out before the altar, yet would leave immediately after? How many men and women would remain at the place of the altar long enough to see the offering placed and arranged upon the altar, yet did not and would not remain until the offering was consumed in the midst of the flames? ARE YOU WILLING TO REMAIN THROUGH TO THE END? ARE YOU WILLING TO REMAIN AT THE ALTAR UNTIL THE FIRE HAS UTTERLY AND COMPLETELY CONSUMED THE OFFERING WHICH WAS BROUGHT UNTO THE LORD? Why are we in such a rush to leave the courts of the Lord, and leave the place of the altar? Why aren’t we willing to stick around until the entire offering has been consumed within the flames which burn upon the altar? We leave the place of the altar far too soon because we don’t want to see the sight of the blood, nor do we want to smell the scent of burning flesh. We think that bringing the offering to the courts of the Lord, putting to death that very same offering, and then leaving is enough on our part. The truth of the matter is that this simply is not enough, and I would dare say the Lord requires more of us and more from us. The Lord desires that we see the sacrifice through to the end, and don’t be so quick to rush the process of sacrifice. The process of sacrifice is not a quick, nor is it an easy thing, for it requires and demands that we be an active participant. This is perhaps what is so intriguing about the words of the apostle Paul concerning presenting our bodies as living sacrifices unto the Lord, for as a living sacrifice, we remain active participants in the process of sacrifice and in the process of death. Oh that we would not be so quick to leave the place of the altar in order that we might return to the place of comfort and ease. I believe with all my heart the Lord is asking His people if they are willing to stay at the altar just a little while longer. WILL YOU REMAIN AT THE ALTAR JUST A LITTLE WHILE LONGER? WILL YOU REMAIN IN THE PLACE OF SACRIFICE JUST A LITTLE WHILE LONGER? WILL YOU REMAIN IN THE PLACE OF THE FIRE AND THE BLOOD UNTIL THE PROCESS OF SACRIFICE IS COMPLETE?

 The prophet Jeremiah spoke of the gold growing dim, and the precious gold changing, but he also spoke of the stones of the sanctuary being cast out into the streets. What’s more, is that in the twelfth verse, the prophet goes on to declare, saying, “The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem” (Lamentations 4:12). I am convinced we must pay close attention to these words written by the prophet, for the enemy and adversary would love nothing more than to enter the gates of Jerusalem. If the enemy and adversary is permitted to enter the gates of Jerusalem, the enemy and adversary can then march upon the Temple of the Lord, and can effectively destroy it with fire. We bear a tremendous responsibility to guard and protect all entrances which grant access to the Temple of the Lord within our lives. If and/or when the adversary and enemy is permitted to enter into the gates of Jerusalem, the Temple of the Lord—the courts of the Lord, the place of the altar, and even the Holy of Holies—become vulnerable and susceptible to the destruction and devastation of the enemy. I still believe that the Lord allowed His Temple to be destroyed and consumed in order that His people might be spared and not consumed by the sword of the enemy. The Lord allowed His Temple to stand as a substitute and sacrifice on behalf of and for His people, for He was not willing that they be utterly and completely consumed. Even in the destruction of the Temple there was still the act of sacrifice on behalf of the Lord, for while there would be no sacrifices offered upon the altar of the Lord, the Temple itself would be the sacrifice for and on behalf of the people. The Temple of the Lord would be the substitute and sacrifice for and on behalf of His people, much like a different Temple—the physical Temple of Jesus’ body—would be the substitute and sacrifice for humanity. Oh that we would understand and appreciate the place of sacrifice and offering, for the Lord does not desire that we should perish, but that we should remain before Him as His chosen and holy people. Let us recognize and understand this day the tremendous place of sacrifice, and let us be willing to remain in that place of sacrifice until the work is complete and finished. When the work upon the cross was completed, Jesus spoke and declared the words “It is finished.” The question we must ask ourselves is whether or not we are willing to remain in the place of the sacrifice until we hear the words “It is finished.” Mary, the mother of Jesus, and John the beloved, both remained in the place of sacrifice until the declaration “It is finished” was proclaimed, and we as the people of God are called to remain in the very same place until the work is completed and finished.