Diary of a Wimpy Christian: The Fire of Rebellion

"Your soul is an appalling dump heap overflowing with the most disgraceful assortment of rubbish imaginable mangled up in tangled up knots!" - The Grinch Song

In Books-a-Million last night, I overheard a conversation about the Grinch. As two adults very eruditely explained Dr. Seuss’ portrayal of this character as all that is evil, I began wondering why we love redemption stories.

As a very engrossed reader, the resolution of a redemption story leaves me with a strong sense that nothing is impossible. Every person has a deeply held belief that all is not right. Hope is born of the idea that things will change. Our stories of redemption demonstrate this change in lives that are corrupted and who is more corrupt than the Grinch?

To say that I do not desire to view myself as the Grinch is an understatement. However, deep down I know that I am “The Grinch”. It is my very refusal to admit this truth in the midst of a battle with sin that keeps me from redemption. The very words of God convict me.

Where do I first go wrong? When does evil first show its ugly head? When I decide I don’t need to listen to God I have cut off the only supply of Goodness in my life.

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Nadab and Abihu were two priests who had grown up learning the Law. They had been told over and over again what was required of them. Explanations of the process of burning incense and the consequences of not following specific instructions were given.

These two guys decided they had a better way of doing things. They decided they didn’t need to listen to God. They had been given the very special privilege of entering places in the temple that ordinary men could not go. They had been chosen for special service to God. Yet they did not honor the God who honored them. They chose to experiment. Instead of offering holy fire at the altar they chose to go their own way and offer “strange” fire. They defied God. In essence they were saying, “God’s not real. He doesn’t exist and we’re going to prove it.”

You might question me here. They most likely did not even think these thoughts. Their thoughts were more focused on doing what they wanted than what God had commanded. They did not fear God. In essence they did not believe in Him. God’s commands did not appear important to them.

If they had really known God, they would not have ignored Him. God created the universe. Nadab and Abihu only existed because of Him. God is all-powerful.

Nadab and Abihu have a far worse fate than the Grinches of the world. They somehow thought they were above God’s Law. The Grinch realized his soul was “an appalling dump heap overflowing with the most disgraceful assortment of rubbish imaginable mangled up in tangled up knots!"

Nadab and Abihu could not obtain redemption because they refused to believe that what they were doing was wrong. They had convinced themselves that God would not really punish their rebellion.

Their story is not a story of redemption but of judgment and I have to admit that it does not appeal to me. I want God to give them another chance because I know that I am a lot like them.

God, keep my devious mind from blocking out your true nature. Don’t let me make a graven image to substitute for You. Help me to remember who You are and who I am.