Some of what we read in the Old Testament can be quite cryptic, take for example the account where God wanted an alter built with unworked stone (Exodus 20 v 25).
Why did God ask for this?
He asked for this as it was a picture (or type or shadow) of self-effort and self-righteousness; the very thing that God does not want from us.
God wanted an alter made from stone that He had created; he did not want anything that had been worked on my man.
He did not want man trying to improve upon His workmanship.
This is a picture of what the Lord wants from us.
He made us righteous as a gift of grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5 v 21).
He does not want us to try and be right before Him with our own works, efforts and self-righteousness.
He does not want us to think we have to improve our “religious performance” to be made more righteous.
This is like taking what God has done through Jesus and trying to make it better.
This is like saying Jesus has not done enough and I need to do more.
It is like asking God for forgiveness when we have already been forgiven through the shed blood of Jesus (Ephesians 1 v 7 and Colossians 1 v 14).
God has already forgiven us and does not want or need us to ask for forgiveness; we cannot improve on what He has done already through Jesus Christ.
I have a small piece of rock from a local hill called Benrinnes and it is just marvellous the way it is, I don’t think I could do anything to improve it.
In terms of my forgiveness and my righteousness there is nothing I can do to improve what God has done and made me through the finished work of Jesus Christ.
God wants us to build our life and Christian walk upon an understanding of what He has done and what He has made us; he does not want or need us trying to improve what He has already done with our own religious works and self-righteousness.
Enjoy what He has done and enjoy what He has made you.
Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord that I have been forgiven and made righteous because of what you have already done through Jesus Christ”.
Exodus 20 v 25…..And if thou wilt make me an alter of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it
Heilan Word Ministries 