Intemperance and Irreverence
WHAT was it that led to the careless disregard of holy things, on the part of Nadab and Abihu? The thing is indicated in Lev. 10:8-11: “And the Lord spake unto Aaron, saying, Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations: and that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; and that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.” The minds of Nadab and Abihu were clouded by the spirit of wine, instead of enlightened by the Spirit of God, and they could not discern the difference between the sacred and the profane. And thus, strictly speaking, intemperance was the sin for which they were destroyed. By intemperance they clouded the glory of God in the true temple of God,—their bodies,—and that led to the error in relation to the service in the figurative sanctuary. They defiled the living temple, and that naturally resulted in debased service in the temporary structure. “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Cor. 10:31. It is by strict temperance in eating and drinking, above all things else, that the true temple of God is to be kept holy, so that he may be glorified in us. Let no one say, then, that it is a matter of no importance what or how we eat and drink. It is of vital importance. How many there are whose brains are stupefied, and whose minds are clouded, solely through wrong habits of eating. They think that they are temperate, because they never drink intoxicating liquor; but they are mistaken; and their error is not a slight one. How important to keep the stream of life always running clear, so that the mind will be bright and active! God’s glory will be revealed, and it will consume and destroy everything that defiles. Shall it be revealed in our glorification, or in our destruction? Which shall it be? —Present Truth.