Walking Toward The Altar

The ultimate high in life arrives when I toss aside everything standing between me and Christ- all preoccupations, doubts, worries, and fears hindering me from moving forward.

It happens to every single one of us at one point or another. I am referring to the moment we instantaneously morph from from life breathing human to an inanimate object- an impermeable granite rock statue.

The moment we hear the words “in just a moment I am going to open the altar and invite anyone that…to come forward” all oxygen immediately rescinds into the outer atmosphere as we collectively and instinctually kick into statuesque survival mode.

“Uh oh. Who is that headed straight toward me? Is that who I think it is? ”

Christangelo.

He specializes in bringing the dead back to life again, turning water into wine, and leaving no stone unturned.

“Perhaps if I remain perfectly still no one will notice.”

But it’s not them you have to worry about, it is The Light Of The World who is now standing next to you encouraging you to trust ‘In Him’.

Let’s transport back to this past weekend, there I was again, a frozen Sundae rather than responding to the heartwarming stone melting invitation to come forward. My eyes are closed. They have been closed for the majority of the time because I have learned that keeping them open only distracts me and keeps me anchored down in the physical material world, and right now I am not interested in attractive females, nor how my fellow brother’s or sister’s are worshipping, or what the pastor is doing, right now my heart and soul are set on His Kingdom. I want to feel and experience His presence.

Suddenly, with my eyes still being closed I begin to see glowing white light. One of the lights is now to my right standing next to me in the middle of the isle with his right hand motioning forward toward the altar. I feel a tug on my right arm nudging me to be brave and to begin walking toward the altar. I ignore it.

“You’ve got the wrong statue. I went last week.”

Another tug by the elbow. I continue playing Stonehinge.

“Why do I gravitate my focus and concerns on how others will perceive me? When not one of them is able to redeem me nor make whole again? Where am I standing? At the moment I am standing outside of Him, if I were not, I would be moving instead of paralyzed by fear and meaningless superficially folly about how I’ll be viewed by men.” The debate continues.

“All those beleiving in me shall never be ashamed.” ~ Almighty God

“I believe you. I know I can depend on you.”

“I trust you my Lord. I don’t know what your doing at this moment, and I don’t need to know because I trust you. I said I would help in any way I could just a few moments ago. ”

“Look at yourself, you said you’d help in any way possible before they made the invitation to the altar…and here you are frozen and saying no as the angel of the Lord encourages you to walk forward…Remember Peter? He said He would follow Him and now how does the shoe fit? Where is your Trust.”

Minutes later, I open my eyes, Altar is a ghost town. Not a human in sight. I shrug off doubt by taking a leap of faith and by taking a step from myself which is where all the doubt and fear exist, and I place my first step forward ‘In Him’.

I take a step into the isle standing ‘in Him whom gives me strength to do all things’. I walk on water toward the altar because my eyes, heart, and soul are now fixated on the only thing that matters- My Lord and Saviour- Jesus Christ. The reason I have life.

This is the moment when ordinary becomes extraordinary. Miracles are born for each and every single one of us the moment we decide to take that first step inside Christ.

Many times we won’t understand why Christ is asking us to do something we have never done before, and to make matters even more daunting He is asking while we are on center stage. We have to remember, it is His plan not ours, we don’t need to understand in order for us to take our first step. That is ‘Trusting in Him’.

I can assure you His Words are true-
“None believing in me shall ever be disappointed nor ashamed”.

Moments later the Altar is full.

…..The rest is in His hands….

Glory be to God forever, Only He Redeemes and can wipe away our guilt. Only He can restore us FULL of life. He is Our Victory.