In the center of Moscow, the capital of Russia, is a large cluster of government buildings called Red Square. In it stands the Kremlin where the important Russian rulers make all the laws for the nation. It is out-of-bounds for most people. There are high walls around it and it is heavily guarded. Inside is a government whose power is feared around the world. Only certain people can enter the area and then only with special permission. No one would ever think of barging in unannounced for fear of their lives. Well, almost no one!

One calm May evening in 1987 everyone was startled when they heard the sound of an airplane engine coming toward the Square from the south. Aircraft are not even allowed to fly over this area! Yet there it was. A blue and white Cessna 172 Skyhark came in low and circled over the Kremlin three times. Then it buzzed over the Lenin Mausoleum and finally rolled to a stop on the cobblestones behind St. Basil's Cathedral.

Everyone was amazed when out of the plane stepped a young man of 19 years of age, Mathias Rust, from Hamburg, Germany. He smiled and waved to the crowd. Then he began to sign autographs! But Mathias' fun was soon over. Before he knew it, armed guards arrested him and he was taken away to jail.

Silly man! Didn't he know the rules? Didn't he fear the power that was represented in those buildings? "I just wanted to talk with the leaders", he said, "especially the President, to tell him my thoughts about peace."

But the Russians were angry. They were not concerned about "his thoughts." He had violated a national shrine by flying over Red Square. As one official said, "It is a sacred place for us." After a solemn trial, Mathias was sentenced to 4 years in a labor camp. Sadly, he had to admit that "It was the greatest mistake of my life!"

Perhaps Mathias was sincere in trying to see the President. He thought it was sort of a fun way to do it too. Wasn't that the problem with Nadab and Abihu? They wanted to approach God. Though they knew His commandments they decided that coming in their own way would be different and impressive. Surely God would be happy with their new ideas. But we read in Leviticus 10 that the judgement of God fell immediately and both men died on the spot.

It's a lesson we all must learn. It is better to do what God says then to follow our own thoughts, no matter how good they seem. God is holy. We must come to Him in a way that is proper and fitting with His holiness. If Nadab and Abihu were here today, they would say with Mathias, "It was the greatest mistake of our lives." Don't you make the same mistake!

Related Items:

• The Danger of My Way
• Sunday School Lesson 221 Nadab and Abihu are judged
• A new name
• Pilot Error
• It's History - Freedom for All