(READ TEXT)
We find that even in the unfaithful and unbelieving Israel of Malachi’s day, there was a faithful, believing remnant that God had made note of (verse 16). Malachi addresses this last portion of his book to them.
“Lord, I need You to help me to see satisfactions in service, to enjoy partnership with You, to delight in studying, seeking, and speaking for You; and rescue me from the prison of merely doing my duty. Amen.” - H.B. London
The prophet Malachi answers this prayer, as he draws a contrast between the believing faithful and the unbelieving and faithless.
1. Fear vs. No Fear - 3:13; 16
Believers need not to be afraid of God. We have no reason to be afraid of Him. We know that nothing can separate us from His love. We know that He will never leave us or forsake us. But we should fear Him. Fearing God means having such a reverence for Him that it impacts the way we live. The fear of God is respecting Him, obeying Him, submitting to His discipline, and worshipping Him in awe.
Unbelievers, no the other hand, have no fear of God. They give not thought to being disrespectful toward Him. They have no qualms about even being resentful toward Him. But they should be afraid of Him.
“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.” - Luke 12:4-5 (NIV)
2. Centered on God vs. Centered on Self - 3:14; 16
Believers center their lives around honoring God; while unbelievers center their lives around honoring themselves.
It is clear in verse 14 that the unbeliever’s in Malachi’s day were motivated to consider the place God should have in their lives only if it meant that there was something in it for them, and only if it meant it wouldn’t cost them anything. You see, an entitlement mentality isn’t anything that just developed in our day and time. Every person who refuses to come to God through Christ refuses to do so because of an entitlement mentality that demands that God come to them on their terms, which means they want benefits without commitment.
But the believer, on the other hand, gladly serves the Lord and seeks to honor the Lord because they have a personal relationship with Him, know Him and love Him.
Corrie Ten Boom, author of The Hiding Place, said that many times people would approach her and say, “Corrie, what a great faith you have.” To which she would always reply, “No, it’s what a great God I have.”
3. Eternally Minded vs. Temporally Minded - 3:15;17
While the unbeliever is focused on what he can attain in this life, the believer is focused on what he will become in the next life. God has a great purpose for his people. It is to make those who are rebels and sinners by nature into jewels, God’s treasured possession.
Oh, the believer still has a life here below, but while they go about living, the focus of their living is to live for God, knowing that their life doesn't consist of the things of this world; but their life is “hid with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3).
The hope of what we will one day become in the next life, therefore, impacts what we seek to attain in this life.
“My dear friends, we are now God’s children, but it is not yet clear what we shall become. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he really is. Everyone who has this hope in Christ keeps himself pure, just as Christ is pure.” - 1 John 3:2-3 (Good News)
4. Destined for Deliverance vs. Destined for Destruction - 4:1-2a
The term, “the sun of righteousness” is a clear reference to the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. The “wings” refer to the rays of a sun. The difference between how the believer and unbeliever will greet that day when they face Christ is remarkably contrasted here by Malachi. While the flames of righteousness complete the work of God’s deliverance in the believer, they will bring a day of destruction to the unbeliever.
I like the description of the work the Lord will do in the lives of His children on the day of Christ’s return that is given here - it is described as a work of healing. When the Lord returns and eternity is ushered in:
A. The Lord will heal all our physical sicknesses.
Fanny was struck blind by illness at six weeks old. She later became a believer and sought to use her gifts for God. During her lifetime, she wrote over 8000 poems. Some were set to music and many in our hymnals today. Once, a minister said to her, “I think it is a great pity that the Master did not give you sight when He showered so many other gifts upon you.” “Oh no!” she replied. “If I could have only one request, it would be to be born blind.” “Why?” heasked. “Because,” she answered, “when I get to heaven, the first face my eyes will ever see is the face of Jesus.”
B. The Lord will heal all our emotional sicknesses.
Each of us may have “holes in our heart” from hurts we have experienced in this life. This world is cruel and unyielding; and often times, we are wounded by things either intentionally or unintentionally done to us. Jesus provides a salvation whereby we will not only be made holy; but we can be made whole.
I know a place, a wonderful place; Where accused and condemned;Find mercy and grace; Where the wrongs we have done; And the wrongs done to us; Were nailed there with Him; There at the cross
C. The Lord will heal all our spiritual sicknesses.
Wesley Hill is a believer who lives with a constant struggle. He struggles with the sin of homosexuality. He is attracted to other men. Now, He knows that to live as a homosexual is sinful; and he wants to honor God with his life; so he has committed to a celibate lifestyle. But it seems that for him, homosexuality is his “thorn in the flesh” - something that God allows him to continue to struggle with in this life for reasons known only to the Lord - much like some struggle with alcohol ism or drug addiction. But he confidently looks forward to the day in which the Lord will heal his spiritual infirmity. He says he is looking forward to “when God act s climactically to reclaim the world and raise our dead bodies from the grave, there will be no more homosexuality.” That is the day when the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in his wings.
D. The Lord will heal all our relational sicknesses.
Do you have fellow believers with whom you have had what seems to be irreconcilable conflict? Believers with whom you have had to part company. Paul did so with Barnabas (Acts 15:36-41). Sometimes in this life, there is such a thing as irreconcilable differences. But in
eternity, when God completes the work of reconciliation in us, all those differences will be reconciled.
5. Eternal Delight vs. Eternal Defeat - 4:2b-3
Unlike the unbeliever, whose temporary joy today will be replaced by eternal judgment tomorrow; what difficulty the believer has today is only temporary and what delight awaits us is eternal.
“Understand the figure. The calf in the stall is shut up, tied up with a halter at night, but when the sun rises the calf goes forth to the pasture; the young bullock is set free. So the child of God may be in bondage. The recollection of past sins and present unbelief may halter him up and keep him in the stall, but when the Lord reveals himself he is set free.” - Charles Spurgeon
Conclusion: So, how are we to live until the Lord returns?
1. Remember God’s Word - 4:4
“Seek the truth, listen to the truth, teach the truth, love the truth, abide by the truth and defend the truth . . . unto death.” - Christian martyr, John Huss (1370-1415)
2. Rely on God’s Word - 4:5
There are over 400 prophecies in the Old Testament which point to the coming of the Messiah and to His life, death and resurrection.
Jesus Christ perfectly fulfilled every single one of them. Just as our Lord definitely fulfilled each and every promise concerning His first coming, He will keep each and every promise He has made concerning His second coming. When it comes to fulfilling His promises to His children, God says, “I will!” You can count on God keeping His Word. God’s truth is something we can confidently build our lives upon (Matthew 7:24-27).
3. Relate God’s Word - 4:6
“Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power.” - Psalm 145:4 (NLT)
A study once disclosed that if both Mom and Dad attend church regularly, 72% of their children remain faithful. If only Dad, 55% remain faithful. If only Mom, 15%. If neither attended regularly, only 6% remain faithful. The statistics speak for themselves - the example of parents and adults is more important than all the efforts of the church and Sunday School.
