Anyone that has read the Bible knows this – God is holy. But, what does it really mean? The word itself means separated. Concerning Christians it means separated from sin and consecrated to God. Concerning God it is descriptive of His purity, majesty, and glory. Numerous events recorded in Scripture show us the demands of His holiness.

The book of Leviticus is all about the Holiness of God and what was required of Israel in order to approach Him. When Moses informed Aaron that the Lord was going to appear to Him, Aaron first had to kill the calf of the sin offering for himself. (10:8) Then he had to make the proper provisions for the blood, the entrails and the carcass. Next his sons presented him with the burnt offering and he had to dispose of that in a distinct and exact way. After this he killed a goat for a sin offering for the people. And finally, he killed the bull and the ram as sacrifices of peace offerings. In each and every case it was necessary for him to follow precise instructions. It was only after this that “the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people and fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar.” When they saw it, “They fell on their faces.” Lev 9:23,24

If that were not enough of a picture of God's holiness, the following event must have shocked the people even more. Aaron’s two sons “each took his censor, and put fire in it, put incense on it and offered profane fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them. So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.” Lev 10:1,2  This is what the Lord said, “By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy;…Lev 10:3 

Profane fire was ‘common’ not holy as prescribed by God. They were lackadaisical in their approach to God. Their attitude in approaching Him was not right and they paid the price. One can only imagine the fear of all who witnessed this.  Some might call God harsh but that is not true. He is holy and we are sinful. As sinful creatures they as well as we must approach God His way and not our way. 

Thankfully the Old covenantal system has passed and we can “enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us…” Heb 10:19,20 Jesus came to do the will of God. “By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Heb 10:7, 10   And because of the grace that God has shown us, the apostle Peter exhorts believers, “…rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." I Peter 1:13-16