Scripture Reading(s)
Malachi 3:1-4
3:1 See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight–indeed, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.
3:2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap;
3:3 he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the LORD in righteousness.
3:4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years.
Reflections
I was having a conversation with a friend the other day, and we were talking about what going to heaven means for each of us. My answer was I am genuinely looking forward to not only being in the presence of God but to not longer have to worry about sinning anymore. In heaven there will be nothing that will tempt us from loving God. That is a practice that we are to be pursuing now but imagine a world without sin!
The beginning of this chapter points to the coming of John the Baptist. He is going to pave the way and announce the grand coming of Christ. The coming of Christ is going to bring an end to all sin. This passage speaks to calling all of us to repent of our sin and to purify and reform His church by the work of His Spirit. On that day He will separate us from our sin and we will no longer have to fear trials or temptations. Christ will intercede for us and make us accepted in the eyes of God. What a beautiful and glorious day that will be when we get to spend eternity with our Father in Heaven.
“How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God” Psalm 84:1-2
This passage is difficult because it is hard to know if this is about Jesus’ first or second coming. If it is about the first coming then it is difficult to explain why this prophecy did not come true, unless the Jew’s rejection of Jesus changed the trajectory of salvation history. If it’s about Jesus’ second coming then this prophecy has yet to be fulfilled and we should all be aware that this prophecy can be applied to us. We should know that when Jesus returns those who are not serving Him will be subdued to the flames.
I am not a hell-fire and brimstone preacher, but that does not mean that I am unaware that there is a real hell that awaits the enemies of the Lord.