What happens when lawlessness attempts to come before the Presence of THE LORD?
FATHER revealed HIS Holiness before HE revealed HIS Love so if we want to come into full maturity, we must pursue Holiness as well. We cannot treat our relationship with Our Heavenly Father as common for it is sacred.
Moses recorded by The Holy Spirit in Leviticus chapter 10:
1 Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them.
2 So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.
3 And Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near Me I must be regarded as Holy; And before all the people I must be Glorified.'” So Aaron held his peace.
The word “must” is an emphatic command given to us by Our Heavenly Father. It is not merely a suggestion. The word “profane” is a common, non-sacred term that is unacceptable to be associated with the Presence of THE LORD.
Once again, our relationship with FATHER must be Sacred!
James wrote by The Holy Spirit in James chapter 4:
7 So then, surrender to God. Stand up to the devil and resist him and he will turn and run away from you.
8 Move your heart closer and closer to God, and He will come even closer to you. But make sure you cleanse your life, you sinners, and keep your heart pure and stop doubting.
9 Feel the pain of your sin, be sorrowful and weep! Let your joking around be turned into mourning and your joy into deep humiliation.
10 Be willing to be made low before the Lord and He will exalt you!
This passage does not deal with salvation but instead, it deals with sanctification.
Later, there were two other brothers who were in charge of offerings before THE ORD. It is written by THE SPIRIT in 1st Samuel chapter 2:
12 Now the sons of Eli were corrupt; they did not know the LORD.
17 Therefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD, for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.
22 Now Eli was very old; and he heard everything his sons did to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.
23 So he said to them, “Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all the people.
24 No, my sons! For it is not a good report that I hear. You make the LORD’s people transgress.
25 If one man sins against another, God will judge him. But if a man sins against the LORD, who will intercede for him?” Nevertheless they did not heed the voice of their father, because the LORD desired to kill them.
Why weren’t these sons judged immediately with death? The Presence of THE LORD was no longer in the Temple. They continued to perform rituals and sacrifices without HIS Presence. There is a difference between Omnipresence and manifested Presence.
Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1st Timothy chapter 5:
24 Some men’s sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later.
FATHER is not forgetful, nor does HE turn a blind eye. Judgment will come lest we repent. Let us actively acknowledge HIS Holiness and cleanse ourselves of unrighteousness so that we can draw near to HIM, at the center of HIS Love.