The Second Altar
March 26, 2026
“So Abram went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he pitched his tents. There he built an altar to the Lord.”
Genesis 13:18 (NIV)
Lot got everything he wanted, and it cost him everything he had.
Abraham hands his nephew, Lot, the first choice, the best land, the greenest pastures, the richest plain. Lot heads straight for Sodom, which looks prosperous and is also wicked.
Not only does Lot get into Sodom, but Sodom gets into Lot. His wife dies fleeing it, his family never recovers, and the man who went looking for happiness finds nothing but heartache. Sodom paid off Lot, but always in counterfeit money.
Abraham takes an entirely different approach. He builds an altar, and not for the first time. This is his second. That quiet, faithful practice of seeking God characterizes his life and his future.
God shows up and promises Abraham everything his eyes can see, north, south, east, west, a home, a people, and a legacy that lasts forever. We have no record of God speaking to Lot. But God speaks to those who are willing to hear Him, heed Him, and honor Him.
Your decisions always reveal who you really are and what you really believe. Ever wondered why there were two crosses on either side of Jesus at Calvary? One mocked and one turned. The one who turned heard the most beautiful words a guilty man could ever receive. One went the way of Lot, and one went the way of Abraham. One final right decision redeemed every wrong decision that man ever made.
Lot got everything he wanted and lost it all. Abraham built a quiet altar and received a promise that still stands today.
Build your altar today. Before you open your inbox, open the Scripture first. Five minutes of seeking God again is what keeps you close to the God who is ready to speak.
Prayer: Lord, I want to be someone who keeps building altars even when nobody is watching. Teach me faithfulness in the small moments, so that when the real decision comes, I already know which way I am turning—always toward You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.