“Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer 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. And Moses said to Aaron, ‘This is what the Lord spoke, saying: “By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy.” ’ ” Leviticus 10:1–3, first part
We are living in a generation that seems not to understand what holiness is. He who is not holy will not see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). An unholy person does not talk or act in harmony with the law of God. But the thoughts, feelings, words, and actions of a holy person are in harmony with the ten commandments, because the law is holy, just, and good. (Romans 7:12.)
One of the chief aspects of holiness is purity. The Bible says concerning God, “You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on wickedness.” Habakkuk 1:13
We are told that the glory of God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29), and the work of Jesus for His people in the last days is likened to a refiner’s fire (Malachi 3:2). Fire is one of the symbols of the Holy Spirit. On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was manifested to the apostles as tongues of fire resting on each of the apostles.
“The prophet Isaiah had declared that the Lord would cleanse His people from their iniquities ‘by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.’ The word of the Lord to Israel was, ‘I will turn My hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin.’ Isaiah 4:4; 1:25. … In all who submit to His power, the Spirit of God will consume sin. But if men cling to sin, they become identified with it. Then the glory of God, which destroys sin, must destroy them. …
“Wherever men came before God while willfully cherishing evil, they were destroyed. … The light of the glory of God, which imparts life to the righteous, will slay the wicked.” The Desire of Ages, 107, 108
When the Lord looks upon you does He see that you have been baptized with fire and now are living a holy life?