Is Your Reverence of God Worthy of a Rope?
Exodus 30:21
“So they (Aaron and his sons) shall wash their hands and their feet, so that they will not die; and it shall be a perpetual statute for them, for Aaron and his descendants throughout their generations.”
In Exodus 30:30 Aaron and his sons are anointed and consecrated as priests unto God. In the book of Leviticus, explicit instructions were given to them as to the special attire they were to wear in addition to the ceremonial washing as described above. This was all done before entering the Holy of Holies where they made atonement for Israel’s sin. To disobey these instructions meant DEATH. In Exodus 28:35 it describes how bells of gold were placed at the hemline of their robes to tinkle when the priest entered and left the Holy of Holies once a year. If the bells did not tinkle that indicated that the high priest died after entering. Therefore, it became a custom to attach a rope around the leg of the priest so that if he died upon entering the Holy of Holies, his body could be removed. Sounds like pretty severe consequences for some minor cleansing infractions before entering into the presence of God.
A Divine Revelation
Fortunately for us, as followers of Christ, we have the privilege to come into the presence of God daily. Our sin has been removed and the Holy Spirit resides within us. In fact, I Peter 2:9 refers to believers as a royal priesthood. Like Aaron’s sons, we have been set apart or consecrated unto God and like Aaron’s sons, our reverence or lack thereof in God’s presence is equally important. I Peter 1: 15-16 says, “But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.” But what does it mean to be holy?
A Divine Challenge
The Word of God is full of countless examples of holiness. A good example regarding the holiness of our speech is Ephesians 4:29 which says, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to the hearer.” Then there’s the holiness of our actions, a great example of this is again found in Ephesians 4:31-32, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” As you read these verses, notice how the relationship with others is the focus of each. Therefore, our pursuit of holiness effects both our relationship with God and with those around us.
Call to Action
Holiness is also having an attitude of humility and brokenness when we come to God in prayer. Prayer brings us into the presence of God and our personal Holy of Holies. Though we are not required to do the same rituals as Aaron and the priests did, we would be wise to heed their example and take time to cleanse our hearts, our minds, and our lives from anything that would hinder us from giving God the reverence He is so worthy of. When we come into the presence of God without much thought to the sacredness of that privilege or with the respect/honor that a holy God deserves, we come with an irreverent heart. When we do, I believe something also dies within us, but unfortunately, it isn’t our flesh. It’s our sensitivity to the Spirit and the holiness of our God that dies. So again, I ask you, is your reverence of God worthy of a rope?”
Father, there is little in this world that demands our reverence and that may be why it is so foreign to our way of life. However, to truly know You IS to truly reverence You. You are the God of the Universe, the Creator of heaven and earth. You alone are worthy of our praise, honor, respect, and gratitude! When we come into Your presence, may we never forget that! In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen!