Does It Matter to God

Does It Matter to God?

What happened to people who did not follow the orders God had given? In Leviticus 10:1-2, ..."Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered STRANGE FIRE before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD." YES, IT MATTERED TO GOD THAT THEY OBEY HIS COMMANDS! Nadab and Abihu changed what God had commanded about the fire. They did not follow God's instructions!

Another example of disobedience is found in 2 Sam.6:3, 6-7, "And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart..... And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God." God had given specific instructions to carry the ark on staves by hand. Even though they followed orders given by King David, God still wanted them to follow the instructions given by Him.

Quoting from an excellant article from the Global Church News, Jan-Feb 1995 issue, titled "Are Sincere "Good" Intentions Enough for God" by Wesley B. Webster, pg.14: "Sincerity of itself doesn't justify wrong actions".----"Myriads of people sincerely worship God today, but they do it all in vain because these religious people are not worshipping God according to His Word". -----"They don't see the importance of living by every word of God." ----- "Uzzah's tragic story underscores our need to concern ourselves with every detail of God's Word! It is not sufficient to follow the ideas of men--even those coming from ordained leaders--according to the LORD! " And a final quote--"The main lesson we learn from this example is to uphold and extol God's Word. Uzzah erred by touching the Ark. Had Uzzah studied God's Word, he would have realized he had no business touching the Ark under any circumstances! He had a personal responsibility to study God's Word and to follow it, regardless of what King David said! Uzzah paid for his error with his life. Uzzah's death teaches us that every Word of God is important, far more important than the ideas and words of men." HOW CLEAR ---- ---POWERFUL WORDS!

Nevertheless, many of the Churches of God practice syncretism, the mixing of religious beliefs! God did not give the religion of Judaism the right to postpone the Holy Days or to count backward 177 days from Tishri 1 to find the first day of the sacred year, as the Hebrew calendar does.

Should we allow ourselves to be lead by the word of man? Does it matter to God what days we keep holy? YES, IT DOES MATTER TO GOD!! As the Ark was the physical representation of the Throne of God, it was also a model of the mercy seat in heaven where God sits between the cherubim (Ex.25:10-22). So, also, the Holy Days are a representation of His plan for mankind. If, we want to be where God is, at His appointed time, we had better keep His commanded assemblies on the right day!!

It is important to God, to see if we are going to follow Him or follow what man is teaching (syncretism). Look into the Word of God and see if you can find where God says to change the days He says to keep holy! Study to find out where the postponements for the Holy Days have come from. If you want the Bible to be your foundation for doing the things you do, check up and find out the origin of some of the things you do! "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Tim.2:15). Each of us needs to prove, out of God's Word, for ourselves! "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good" (I Thes. 5:21).

The Holy Days are a prophecy for us today, by showing the plan of God. If we do not follow them correctly, we will miss our appointment with God. Could this be the reason for the second Passover? Those who do not want to follow the Word of God, making a preparation day more important than a Holy Day, but want to follow the Hebrew calendar, have missed the last two Passovers (1995, 1996), and WILL ALSO MISS THE PASSOVER AND ALL THE HOLY DAYS IN 1997 BY ONE MONTH!

The second Passover is for those people and Priests who were not ready. "For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the Passover in the second month. For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem" (2 Chron.30:2-3). "Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the Passover unto the Lord. The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs" (Num.9:10-11).

God sets apart those who are ready by truth, God's truth from His Word, not from men. "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth" (John 17:17).

WHICH PASSOVER WERE YOU READY TO TAKE?