When this happened, God's people hung their heads in shame. It was a terrible thing—strangers breaking into the holy places meant only for priests. And look around today. We see the same tragedy everywhere.

How many ungodly men are training for ministry even now! What a crying sin when churches pretend that everyone in their community is truly saved! How fearful when sacred ordinances are pressed upon the unconverted. Even in churches that should know better, discipline has grown so lax that anyone can join, anyone can serve, anyone can lead.

If the thousands who read these words will take this burden before the Lord Jesus today, he will interfere! He will avert the evil that threatens to poison his church. Listen: to adulterate the church is to pollute a well. It's like pouring water on fire. Like sowing a fertile field with stones. The church is meant to be an assembly of believers—not a nation, not an unsaved community of unconverted men.

May God give us grace to guard the purity of his church in whatever way we can. But friends, this zeal must begin at home. In our own hearts.

Let us examine ourselves! Do you have any right to eat at the Lord's Table? Have you put on the wedding garment, or are you yourself an intruder in God's holy place? Many are called, but few are chosen. The way is narrow, and the gate is strait.

O for grace to come to Jesus aright, with the faith of God's elect! Remember—the God who struck down Uzzah for touching the ark is very jealous of his two ordinances. As a true believer, I may approach them freely. As an alien, I must not touch them lest I die.

Heart-searching is the duty of all who are baptized or come to the Lord's table. This is not optional. Pray with the psalmist: "Search me, O God, and know my way. Try me and know my heart."