When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Azariah son of Oded the prophet, he took courage. He removed the detestable idols from the whole land of Judah and Benjamin and from the towns he had captured in the hills of Ephraim. He repaired the altar of the Lord that was in front of the portico of the Lord’s temple
2 Chronicles 15:8 NIV
The story of King Asa in 2 Chronicles 15:8 offers a powerful lesson about reconnecting with God. It highlights practical steps we can take to rekindle the flame of our faith in Christ Jesus. Asa’s actions upon hearing God’s word provide a powerful example for us. Upon hearing Azariah’s prophetic words, Asa didn’t hesitate. His first step was to remove all abominable idols, followed by repairing the broken altar. So, this prompts us to reflect on our own spiritual practices. How often do we visit our personal altars? Are we still connected to them? Are we offering our prayers and sacrifices?
This verse serves as a potent metaphor for our own spiritual lives. The altar represents our personal connection with God, a designated ‘space’ for worship, prayer, and devotion. But how often do we truly visit this sacred ‘space’? Have we allowed distractions and busyness to sever this vital connection?
An altar cannot exist without someone committed to offering sacrifices on it. In this context, the word “repair” signifies more than just fixing physical damage. It speaks of a need to revive a neglected practice. Just as a neglected altar wouldn’t receive offerings, a broken connection with God means a lack of prayer, worship, scripture study, and an intimate relationship with God.
Our response to God’s word is crucial. Sometimes, we hear God’s word, opening our eyes to new insights. However, we often fail to take the next step to explore these insights further with Him. We stopped at the point of hearing and did not take any action.
God calls us not only to hear His word but also to act upon it. Asa began by removing all idols. You might think you don’t have a graven image that can be called an idol, but an idol is anything that you prioritise above God. It could be your phone, assets, career, or even yourself. The Lord urges us to put these things aside so that we can focus solely on Him. But we shouldn’t stop at just removing idols; we should also repair our altars.
Therefore, let’s return to our altars, to our secret places that we have neglected because of idols. Let’s strengthen our altars through prayer and studying the scripture. This is a call for all of us to return and assume the posture God wants us to adopt. It is a call to repair the broken altar and mend our broken connection with God. Likewise, it is an invitation to rekindle the fire on our altar. We must return to seeking an intimate relationship with God.
In conclusion, our spiritual journey requires constant vigilance and active participation. By removing the idols in our lives and repairing our personal altars, we can rekindle the fire that has gone out and strengthen our relationship with God. Let’s heed this call to action and live a life reflecting God’s presence within us.
