Read: Malachi 3:1-4:6; Revelation 22:1-21; Psalm 150:1-6; Proverbs 31:25-31
I love how the end of the Old Testament and the end of the New dovetail. The Old ends with the promise of the Messiah’s first coming and the New ends with the promise of his second. Malachi tells us that God’s messenger will come first to prepare the people’s hearts for the Messiah. We know this person to be John the Baptist. Jesus would come as a refiner’s fire and a launderer’s soap to purify the priests and their sacrifices. He was coming to judge their sins and their worship.
Jesus did all of these things while he was on earth. He confronted the religious leaders of his day with the truth of the law, not their man-made laws. He was not afraid to stand up and proclaim the truth.
Malachi ends with describing Jesus’ second coming. The messenger he will send before that day will be the prophet Elijah. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the children to their fathers. He will turn the heart of the Jewish people back to their founding fathers of the Old Testament and teach them Jesus in the Old Testament.
In Revelation we are in heaven with John being shown the river of life. It is the opposite of the lake of fire. It will flow from the throne of God and bring life and healing to the nations. Those who have washed their robes through repentance will have the right to eat of the tree of life that the first Adam was forbidden to eat. Now will be the acceptable time for eternal life.
Lord, may we be clothed with strength and dignity and be able to laugh at the days to come because we trust in you. May our works praise you.
No comments:
Post a Comment