Ezekiel 42-44

"The Levites who went far from me when Israel went astray and who wandered from me after their idols must bear the consequences of their sin. They may serve in my sanctuary...But because they served them in the presence of their idols and made the house of Israel fall into sin, therefore I have sworn with uplifted hand that they must bear the consequences of their sin, declares the Sovereign LORD. They are not to come near to serve me as priests or come near any of my holy things or my most holy offerings; they must bear the shame of their detestable practices..."

"But the priests, who are Levites and descendants of Zadok and who faithfully carried out the duties of my sanctuary when the Israelites went astray from me, are to come near to minister before me; they are to stand before me to offer sacrifices of fat and blood, declares the Sovereign LORD. They alone are to enter my sanctuary; they alone are to come near my table to minister before me and perform my service."

I always thought consequences of sin are something physical such as illness, poverty, death, etc. However, the passage describes them as something a lot more painful and horrible. It is the separation from God, from his presence. Being in his presence is a wonderful privilege we shouldn't take for granted.

It is shocking to hear God saying he will still allow sinners to serve him but not to come near and be in his holy presence. It is scary to think that such people exist in churches today. They may seem to be godly and serving God yet they are idol worshipers. And they can go on living like that fooling themselves and others, but God searches and knows our hearts.

Do we think everything is okay just because we are serving at church every Sunday? Let us examine our hearts this day and ask God to get rid of anything that hinders us from being in God's presence. Let us be the faithful servants God desires to come near him.