Holiness is not an option - Leviticus 10-12

When God demands holiness we don't hear the demand in the same tone that it is given. When God says, "Be holy even as I am holy" we hear, "If you would like to be holy give it a try but don't press yourself." Holiness, however, is not an option for believers ... it is a demand and requirement for a relationship with God. Of course we have no way to be holy as we are are totally corrupt. But, God has prescribed a way for us to be holy. And, God demands that we not diviate from that way. In Leviticus 10 we read about Aaron's sons and their "bad fire" in an offering to God. Many of the detains of this story are left in the dark to us. But, with relative safety we know that the boys made an offering in a manner not prescribed earlier by God via Moses. What makes the story even sadder is that Aaron was ready to grieve the lost of his boys and Moses forbid him to do so. Moses wanted all of them to know the seriousness of this offense. God takes worship seriously and He takes how we come to Him in worship. Let's not be so eager to rush into God's presence with "new fire" or a "new method" of worshiping Him. God has some ways He wants us to worship. Holiness is not an option in that worship. I rejoice that God gave us this story. I feel bad for father Aaron. But, I do like the story for me and for others who wish to worship God. God demands holiness. Don't play with wrong fire. Don't play with wrong fire.   Read Acts 5 to see if you see the New Testament correlation.