Many times through the years, we have seen glorious revival break forth in our church.  When the Spirit of the Lord has freedom to move hearts to repentance, surrender and service, a congregation is revitalized and energized and burdened to new zeal and fervor to reach their community for the Lord.  Saints are revived and sinners are converted.  This is revival!

During one such time we were thrilled at the tremendous response to the altar calls.  Service after service, the altar was filled with weeping penitents of all ages, especially older teens and young adults.  As time passed however, we could not help notice that many of the same individuals were coming to the altar week after week but there seemed to be no evidence of change in their lives, no joy or victory.  It all seemed so "going-through-the-motions", so meaningless and empty, no sacrificial surrender of self.  Thus came this poem, Empty Altars.  Sadly, the same attitude is still seen too often today.  We go to the altar; we kneel; we pray; we weep; we rise up; we return to our seat - - and leave behind us an empty altar.  No genuine surrender and sacrifice of self on God's altar has been made ... nothing has been left on the altar, and so we have no peace, joy or victory.

Scripture makes it clear that God is not pleased with empty altars.  After all, isn't that what an altar is for, a place to make a sacrifice?  The Cross became the ultimate altar, when the Lord Jesus poured out His blood for our sins.  The sacrifices God desires of us today are those of a pure heart, of righteousness, joy, faith, praise, service, mercy, obedience, love ... these are the sacrifices that please Him and are acceptable to Him.  Paul said it so well; "Present your bodies a LIVING sacrifice."  Let there be no more empty altars.