Not Lukewarm
It shall never go out…Leviticus 6:13
God was very specific regarding the ordinances of the various burn offerings. Instructions to Aaron came from God through Moses. Much the same as our instructions come from God through His Holy Word—The Bible.
Pray without ceasing, 1 Thessalonians 5:17. This concept of constant prayer came from the Torah: Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, Command Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘this is the law of the burnt offering: the burnt offering shall be on the hearth upon the altar all night until morning, and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning on it, Leviticus 6:8-9.
But there was more; Verse 10: And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen trousers he shall put on his body, and take up the ashes of the brunt offering which the fire has consumed on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar. Verse 11: Then he shall take off his garments, put on other garments, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place. Nothing done in the atonement of sin was left for man to decide. All decisions were made by God.
There was a second altar in the tabernacle; the altar of incense. Exodus, chapter 30 records God’s instruction regarding its construction and its use. Even the recipe of the incense was dictated by God. And it was never to be used for any other purpose than on this specific altar!
Both altars point to our Lord Jesus. The brazen altar where the various burnt offerings were sacrificed for the purification of God’s people. For we are to be holy, because God is holy. All of these offerings point to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all, Hebrews 10:10. Therefore, the fire of the altar shall never be extinguished.
Likewise, the altar of incense continually burns indicating your unceasing prayers. The events of our days only intensify our prayers. What the world thinks will extinguish the flame of our prayers only makes them burn hotter. There is nothing lukewarm about your faith!
