The Nation's Altar

(#14, ?)

Read Gen. 12:7,8; 13:4,18; Joshua 24:14-15.

It is of interest to note that Abraham built an altar everywhere he went, except in Egypt, where he strayed terribly from the Lord.

The family altar is the solution to every problem.

ƒ    The church.

w   Richard Baxter, one of England's great preachers, was called to a large, rich and cold church.  He spent three years determined to establish a family altar in every home.  He succeeded remarkably, the church was enlivened and filled.

w   Thomas Boston spent years of early ministry in slums of a great city.  The church was cold and empty.  He established family altars and the church was revived.

ƒ    The individual.

w   John G. Patan, a noble missionary, on the first page of his biography, said the secret of his life of service was the recollection of his father with the family Bible twice a day with the children gathered around.  It was his father's mighty religious influence that made him what he was and started him on his missionary life and work.

ƒ    The nation.

w   Henry M. Grady wrote an editorial describing Washington DC as the home of the nation, the center around which the great nation moved.  Some months passed and he went to his old home in Georgia.  He then wrote another editorial saying he had been mistaken.  The center of this nation was in the cottages, farmhouses, and every home in the land in which there was a family altar.

A call to every family.  Joshua 24:14-15.

ƒ    The objective of this call was to turn the people from the gods of Canaan, the Amorites, etc. to the God of Israel Who had delivered them from Egypt, divided the Red Sea, and fed them manna and meat in the desert.  Likewise we have a choice: to turn from the gods of this world (money, pleasure, etc.) to the God of salvation.

ƒ    The necessity of this choice is in the command, "choose ye!".

ƒ    And the time of this choice is "this day".

Choose you this day whom ye will serve!