Read Malachi 4

There’s A Great Day Coming

If one were to use the Scriptures to sum up the general message of Malachi 4, it might be these words from the pen of Paul: “Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off” (Romans 11:22). There are grand blessings available to those who walk in His paths, but destruction for those who refuse His grace and mercy.

We sing a song titled, “There’s a Great Day Coming,” written by Will L. Thompson. The lyrics speak of a “great day” in which “the saints and the sinners shall be parted right and left.” For “them that love the Lord” it will be a “bright day.” But it will be a “sad day” for others.

Paul wrote about that “sad day” for sinners: “And to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).

For “those who love the Lord,” though, the goodness of the Almighty will also be on full display. There were still some “who fear My name,” and for them “the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings” (Malachi 4:2).

Both the wicked and the righteous receive the same message; their wickedness or righteousness is based on their response to that message. How will you respond? If those under the old covenant were expected to “remember the Law of Moses,” should we under the new covenant not be expected to do the same with the law of Christ?

“For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him?” (Hebrews 2:2-3).