And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace. And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said unto them, Come near, carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp. So they went near, and carried them in their coats out of the camp; as Moses had said. (Lev. 10:1-5)
As can be seen later with Aaron’s other sons, the priests and Levites who were supposed to know and follow the Law as examples before the people were disregarding the Laws which God commanded and polluting the temple with their sin. God is Holy and demands holiness in His people, especially those He has called to serve the congregation. Proper obedience before Him is essential in those who are pointing others to Christ and leading His flock in worship of Him. God could not sit idly by and allow those He had commanded in how and when to offer worship to do so incorrectly, not out of ignorance but in direct and flagrant violation of all that He had commanded concerning Himself and their worship of Him alone. Since it pointed to the great High Priest who was to come, not just anyone could, under that system, offer worship to God.
All who come to God must do so on His terms. In Israel that meant through the High Priest who was a type and figure of our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ, the Messiah of God. Today, those who realize their need of God for forgiveness of their sin and His righteousness, must surrender to Him in repentance and faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. No one else can save us from our sins. Just as the sons of Aaron brought strange fire, anyone that offers salvation through any other means besides faith alone in Christ alone through grace alone by the Scriptures alone that God alone gets the glory is offering strange fire of a false faith which will not save and false fire insurance instead of the blessed assurance which Christ brings to all who will receive Him.
God has sent those of us that know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our GOD has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of GOD so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of GOD might have life in His Name.
GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet