Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,
I read again this morning the account of Nadab and Abihu, Aaron’s sons, offering profane fire before the Lord which He had not commanded them. Judgment was very swift and final as God killed them on the spot.  God told Moses that “by those who come near me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified.”
I thought of other examples of swift judgment; Uzzah and the touching of the cart and Ananias lying to the apostles.  In each of those examples, the sin was no worse than mine, yet God killed them immediately as He demonstrated His holiness and hatred against sin.  I deserve no less as I choose to sin, disregarding His holiness and righteousness.
Yet, despite my sin, God has been merciful to me and forgiven me in Christ.  He does not overlook my sin, but has forgiven my sin as He poured out His wrath on the Lord Jesus on the cross.  Even though I am forgiven, He would be perfectly justified in taking my life and removing me from this world when I choose to go against His commandments as these others did.  How merciful is our God to grant us life here rather than making us another example of swift judgment.  May we regard Him as holy and pursue His glorification in all we do.
Dale