No other name

One of the traps for all of us who have been in churches for a long time is to start to feel that we are maybe good enough for God. That our sins are frustrating but not that important to God. That we kind of deserve to be on His team due to our skill set and abilities. Our dependability. Our awesomeness even...

Then I started to read Leviticus again.

And I remembered just how seriously God takes sin. Sin has consequences: not just now in the way we hurt others and ourselves, but in the future also. Sin leads to death. The need for animal sacrifices was a tactile reminder to the Israelites of their unholiness before the perfect and Holy God.

Perhaps Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaaron (Lev 10:1-2), began to think that they were pretty awesome. After all, they had just been ordained priests, were wearing special robes and had a unique role within the Israelite community. They were the chosen of the chosen... And so they offered 'unauthorized fire' to the Lord, in contradiction to his command. Their act of self-glorification led to their death, just as our sins  lead to death.

God takes sin seriously, and we can never be good enough to earn our own holiness. And thankfully we don't need to, because God has purchased our holiness in the sacrifice of Jesus, his blood spilled to purify us of all unrighteousness.

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)