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"And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening." (Ezra 3:3)Some 42,360 people who were captives returned with that first group led by Zerubbabel, Jeshua and others (Ezra 2:1-2 & 64). The amazing thing is they returned with 7,337 servants, 200 singers, along with animals, personal possessions of gold and silver (vs. 65-69). Evidently, captivity had not been that hard on them. Many folks had prospered.When they arrived, the first thing they began to do was to build the altar. The temple footings had not been laid. The walls of the city lay in ruins, but they focused first on the altar. It had been seventy years since a priest had offered the morning and evening sacrifices. As they studied the Law and saw the need for the lamb to be slain for their sins, they were most anxious for the sacrifices to begin.Before we can do anything of value, we need to be right with God. The blood of the lambs did not wash away their sins, but it pointed to the Lamb of God Who would be the perfect sacrifice. They wanted to be obedient to the Word of God and do as they were instructed.Unlike most of the world today and many professing Christians, those people back then had a fear of God and His wrath upon sin. They feared God more than they did the people around them who threatened to rob and destroy them. Perhaps this was one good lesson they took from the captivity.Is the Cross and all that it means more important than any church building, appearances, and physical security for you? If we truly understand God's attitude toward wickedness and evil, then at the center of our faith, the bloody Cross of Jesus Christ displays His hatred of all sin.Those who reject God's offer of a free and full salvation by grace through faith, will have to go it alone with no covering for their sin when they stand before God one day with trembling and tears. In Hebrews 10:31 we hear Heaven's warning cry: "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."Friends, thank God with many thanksgivings' night and day for the sacrifice of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Oh, that precious Lamb Who loves you and me beyond compare and Who became that curse for us on Calvary's Hill, so that we may never be cursed and cast into Hell. Thank God indeed for such a loving sacrifice!