Friday, July 27, 2018
Malachi 4:1-3 "For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up," Says the Lord of hosts, "That will leave them neither root nor branch. But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves."
SUMMER CHORES WHERE THE SUN IS A FACTOR
Whether trimming lilacs, working in the garden, or doing any other outdoor activity, the sun is always a factor. On the one hand, the sun brings intense heat, dryness, and saps the energy from my body no matter what I'm doing in the middle of the summer. But on the other hand, the sun gives vitamin D to my body, gives energy to every plant and all manners of vegetation, and it is literally the center of our solar system around which everything revolves. Clearly, the sun is a factor in all our summer activities!
The prophet Malachi understood this contrast and grand paradox too. But his message to God's people wasn't about the sun, our star in the center of our solar system. Malachi was prophesying about Judgment Day and the fires of God's full wrath on sin, wickedness, and unbelief will consume the proud like stubble. Hotter than any lava flow or star. Destruction like has never been seen. Consuming fires that cannot be imagined are all images of our Savior's return. And yet, in the midst of this burning oven, we see the figures of God's eternal promises in and with Christ unscorched, unscathed, and indestructible. Like Jesus with the three in the firey furnace, no fires on earth or send from above will touch nor hard the one who fears, loves, and trusts the name of the "Sun of Righteousness," Jesus Christ.
Like the power and destructiveness of the sun, Jesus has come destroying and swallowing up death and the fires of hell forever. Like the healing energy and life of the sun, Jesus has brought holiness and righteousness to all through the dazzling light of His Gospel of forgiveness and mercy shown brightly and clearly on the cross, once and for all. Yes, the Sun of righteousness has sown and grown His Word of hope and salvation so that we as believers would eat it up tasting and seeing that our Lord Jesus, the Son of God and the Sun of righteousness as brought life and light and immortality to light, through the gospel! When it comes to heaven, the Son of God, Jesus Christ, is the only factor!
