What if your son treated a loaded gun like a toy? What would you do? Some things require an absolutely sober seriousness, right? It’s not about the child, but the NATURE OF THE OBJECT. Guns, by nature, command sobriety and respect. They are DIFFERENT than other things. They are SET APART.
Aaron’s sons brought “unauthorized fire” to the altar and fire shot out and killed them both. Leviticus 10:1-2.
Wait, what? They were fulfilling their duties as priests and God struck them down? But they ignored God’s instructions. This was in the Tabernacle, in the Holy of Holies. You can’t go in there and treat things casually. God established clear rules and they ignored them. What were they thinking? They obviously never saw RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. You don’t mess with the ark—or anything else God deems holy. I’m kidding, of course, but the two had witnessed all the miracles in Egypt and the years since. They saw the fire by night and cloud by day. They collected manna six mornings a week. They were familiar with God’s power and holiness. But they treated it carelessly.
I wrote that guns are different, “set apart.” And that’s what “holy” means. It literally means “different” or “set apart.” God is holy and He wanted His people to recognize that. The things of God are to be treated with respect, with some seriousness, like a loaded gun. That does not mean you have fear or that you don’t walk in joy. “The joy of the Lord is [always] your strength.” But we can benefit from a better understanding of holiness.
And if you know the Lord, YOU are holy. YOU are set apart, different, special. God sees your heart as perfect and pure, worthy of entering the Holy of Holies at even your lowest moments, because of the blood of Jesus. We are covered in mercy and grace—so blessed to live under the New Covenant. But remember, God NEVER changes. And don’t buy the lie that the Father is “mean” and Jesus is “nice.” Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.”
ΑΩ
Household Words: 