For the past few months, I've been knee deep in studying the life of Abraham.

Throughout his life, wherever he went, he built an altar to the Lord. These altars were not only places of worship but also markers of his faith, obedience, and relationship with God. Abraham's practice of building altars serves as a powerful example for us today: we are called to dedicate every aspect of our lives to God, offering Him our work, our time, and our hearts as acts of worship.

Abraham’s Altar-Building Faith

From the moment God called Abraham (then Abram) to leave his homeland, he responded with faith and obedience. As he journeyed, one of the first things he did was build an altar to the Lord.

• At Shechem:
  “Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your offspring I will give this land.’ So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.” (Genesis 12:7, ESV)
• Here, Abraham worshiped God in response to His promise. He acknowledged God as the source of his future blessings and laid down a marker of trust.
• Between Bethel and Ai:
  “From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord.” (Genesis 12:8, ESV)
• Abraham’s altars were not just symbols but places of active devotion. He “called upon the name of the Lord,” showing his dependence on God no matter where he was.
• At Hebron:
  “So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord.” (Genesis 13:18, ESV)
• Even after conflicts and decisions (such as separating from Lot), Abraham continued his practice of building altars, showing his commitment to worshiping God in all circumstances.

The Danger of Forgetting God

Just as Abraham’s life was marked by worship and remembrance of God, we see throughout Scripture how disastrous it can be when people forget Him. When we stop dedicating our lives to God and fail to “build altars” in our hearts, we open the door to spiritual drift, disobedience, confusion, and destruction.

Forgetting God Brings Spiritual Confusion

When we take our focus off God, confusion follows. We lose clarity in decision-making, moral standards become blurred, and we start relying on our own understanding rather than God’s wisdom.

A Mind Darkened Without God

“For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” (Romans 1:21, ESV)

Without God, our thinking becomes futile, meaning empty and directionless. Just as the Israelites became confused and fell into idolatry when they forgot God (Judges 2:10-12), we too risk spiritual blindness when we fail to acknowledge Him in all we do.

God is Not the Author of Confusion

“For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.” (1 Corinthians 14:33, ESV)

Whenever our lives are filled with confusion, it is often a sign that we have drifted from God’s truth. True peace and direction come when we align ourselves with His will through prayer, worship, and obedience.

Forgetting God Leads to Destruction

Neglecting to keep God at the center of our lives invites chaos and destruction. The Bible gives many warnings about the consequences of forgetting Him.

Israel’s Warning Against Forgetting God

“You were unmindful of the Rock that bore you, and you forgot the God who gave you birth.” (Deuteronomy 32:18, ESV)

The Israelites repeatedly turned away from God after experiencing His blessings. When they forgot Him, they fell into sin, idolatry, and eventually judgment. This pattern serves as a warning to us: forgetting God leads to spiritual downfall.

Putting God in Remembrance

“Put me in remembrance; let us argue together; set forth your case, that you may be proved right.” (Isaiah 43:26, ESV)

God calls us to remember Him, His promises, and His commands. When we keep God at the center of our lives, we remain aligned with His will and avoid the pitfalls of spiritual complacency.

Jesus’ Warning About Forgetting God

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” (Matthew 16:26, ESV)

If we neglect to dedicate our lives to God, even earthly success is meaningless. Our greatest purpose is to know Him, worship Him, and live for His glory.

After each step of obedience and worship God revealed more to Abraham. Perhaps the answer, miracle, breakthrough, or sign you’re looking for will be found when you remember God.