The big day is coming! What day? You may be thinking of your 50th class reunion. Or you may be thinking of your wedding. Or maybe your birthday. You may be thinking of that dreaded appointment at the doctor or the dentist. Maybe that big day is Tuesday, November 6th – election day. But the big day is either a day of celebration or a day of dread.
And so also is the Big Day when the Lord returns. And Malachi ends his prophesy with the second coming: “For behold, the day is coming.” What will that day be like for you? Have you thought about it? Malachi paints two pictures of that day – one of darkness, and another of light. Your relationship with God will determine which it will be for you.
I. Day of judgment (1)
First, the day of judgment will be one of utter horror as we read in 4:1 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.”
It would be very easy to pull some punches and lighten up the message that Malachi talks about here. Once again, we discover that the Bible is not a G rated book. It’s not an easy read! We’d rather close our eyes at moments like this. Why don’t we just go on to verse 2? But no! There is a reason why God wanted us to read and understand this first verse – it is a warning! Judgment is real and Hell is real. And that day will be one of fiery judgment.
And we read this in Isaiah 66:24 “And they will go out and look upon the dead bodies of those who rebelled against me; their worm will not die, nor will their fire be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind.” And also in Revelation 20:10 “And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”
The Bible talks about fire, and describes it as a place of burning like a furnace. In Luke 16:23-24 Jesus told the parable of Lazarus and a rich man who died and was condemned to hell. It says of him, “In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. [in heaven] So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'”
Here the Bible is using pictures to help us understand what this rich man was experiencing in hell. It isn’t meant to be a literal picture of hell with fire and heat, but God uses the picture of fire so we can understand the intense pain and suffering that this man is experiencing. In Matt 13 Jesus describes the last judgment: “The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”(Mat 13:49-50). For there will be pain only continually without release and without hope. Only weeping and crying. Only suffering! Horrible.
Hell is a place from which God’s mercy and goodness have been withdrawn. God’s wrath is revealed as a terrible judgment. Separation from God is part of this terrible suffering as well. I tell you, there will be no atheists in hell, for they will all fully experience the reality of the righteous judgment of God. He will be real to them but they will realize it too late! No possibility to change because they will be separated from Him. [alone in Warsaw but not alone from God]
Imagine never finding mercy. Never finding comfort. Never finding a moment of peace. All these things come only from the mercy of God. When someone is cut off completely from God’s mercy, he has absolutely nothing! Utterly alone – as Malachi writes: The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.” They will have no mercy - not even for the smallest root or branch.
Who is this judgment against? Malachi says “For all arrogant and evildoers.” Whew…that leaves me and all of us here out doesn’t it? No it doesn’t! When we commit a crime, we must pay for that crime. When we do any evil against God’s Law, we have broken it and God must punish crime because he is righteous. The scripture says: “The one who sins shall die.” (Ezek. 18:20) Whether you cheated in school, lied to your husband, cursed God, or broke some insignificant law. The one who sins must die and face judgment. Little sins, little judgment. Big sins…big judgment. But to God – one sin = death. He cannot allow one sin into his presence. And you say: “That’s not fair!”
Suppose I were to rob a bank of $50,000. A hidden camera catches me in the act as well as the other eye-witnesses. So eventually I’m brought before the judge and he asks: How do you plead?” I am guilty and the evidence is undeniable. So I say, “I am guilty.” And suppose I go on to say, “Judge, I’m so sorry I robbed the bank. I regret my actions. You have all the money back. No one was hurt. I promise I will never do it again if you just let me go.” Would he be a good judge if he let him go? Of course not! He would be a travesty of justice. Just imagine if all criminals who apologized were released simply because they were sorry and promised to do better.
Now, how do you think God the Almighty judge is going to respond to sin just because you said you’re sorry? Payment must be made! Gen. 18:25b “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?"
Yes, the Day of the Lord will be a day of darkness – eternal judgment. But it doesn’t have to be! You may live your entire life in darkness – your heart is far from God and living for yourself. But the very fact that you are in this church, or sitting at home and watching this on TV or sitting by your computer and listening to this online reveals that you are searching for God – you know there is something more.
God doesn’t want anyone to be judged. “He desires all people to be saved and come to his glory.” He made provision for every person no matter what your background, what your sins, what your crime. 1 Peter 2:24 “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” Would you trust in Jesus Christ and his payment for your sins, for your failures? Would you allow him to heal you and make you his own? If so, the day of the Lord will not be a day of darkness. It will be a day of blessing!
II. Day of Blessing (2-3)
Read with me verse 2 - "But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall."
The Day of the Lord is a day of incredible healing – permanent healing! Can you picture the sun with healing in its wings? If it sounds the logo for a car you’re right. Both Chrysler and Harley-Davidson both have logos with wings attached to the sun. But in the ancient world the sun with wings was often used as a symbol revealing divinity. The Egyptians were the first ones to do so. And then it spread to other nations. And the Israelites also used the sun with wings to picture the Lord God. The sun is depicted as having wings. Actually it’s the beams of the sun that are the wings that bring healing to all the life on earth.
The sun is actually used many times in the Bible as a picture of God. Psalm 84:11 “For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” Isaiah 60:19 "No longer will you have the sun for light by day, Nor for brightness will the moon give you light; But you will have the LORD for an everlasting light, And your God for your glory.”
And although Malachi uses the picture of the s-u-n which brings healing, it is really the S-O-N that brings healing. Jesus is the one who fulfills this picture! Jesus said “I am the light of the world.” (Jn 8:12) How is Jesus like the sun?
Jesus exposes our deeds and covers them. When we are spending time with the Lord as the sun – those strong rays will expose every wrinkle and wound - every misspoken word and intention. Every single detail is revealed. When he walked the earth he saw right through people to their hearts and intentions. No one could hide. His light was not just on the surface but like an x-ray. When you’re exposed to Jesus, you are forced to repent or face judgment. Our life needs healing because we’re covered with sin.
Jesus covers us with His light.
The sun will not only expose but cover us with HIS righteousness. When we turn away from our old sinful life, and turn to Jesus, his face shines on us and we bear His righteousness. Could there be a better healing than that? “May the Lord bless you and keep you and make his face to shine upon you!”
Jesus brings warmth when your heart is cold.
He changes your heart toward people around you. There is nothing else that can bring warmth to the earth except for the sun When Jesus is allowed into your life he is the only thing that brings life. And we need warmth in our hearts because naturally we are irritated and annoyed and don’t love our neighbor – we look for reasons not to love people! But through being in the presence of the sun - Jesus - that will change. He takes your heart of stone and places there a heart of flesh. A new love for others!
Jesus brings a new perspective on life.
Just like with the sun you can see everything in the landscape – so through a relationship with Christ, suddenly the future ahead doesn’t look dark and gloomy. We have a future and a hope. The sun is shining! We are ready to travel where he leads – he is faithful to direct us according to his perfect plan.
His righteousness spreads to all the face of the earth just like the rays of the sun.
No one can escape it. Either you embrace the Lord or you will be destroyed by Him. Like John wrote: “let us walk in the light as he is in the light!” (1 Jn 1:7)
Jesus is the sun with healing in his wings. Go to Him! Be healed by Him!
I don’t know if you ever listen to the radio program “Unshackled!” I believe it broadcasts once a week on Sunday evening. It’s the longest running radio drama in history. So far they have produced over 3200 dramas of people’s testimonies. When we go on long driving trips we take recordings of these dramas to pass the time. Two things never cease to amaze me. First, how lost, and sick, and hurting people are. The amount of abuse, of suffering, of pain that goes on as a result of sin is horrific. And also, how time and time again, people will live under the bondage of sin and oppression year after year after year. They are deceived that there is no other way.
As a family, we get so upset sometimes when we’re listening to this kind of thing that we yell out – “turn to Jesus!” It takes a person getting to the end of all possibilities before they finally turn to the Lord who waits to bring healing. And then it’s like floodgates opening up as God changes their lives from the inside out.
Friends, there are people who have been deceived by the enemy of us all that they are doomed, that they are cursed, that they cannot escape. They have been deceived that they are guilty and deserve a bad life. They have been deceived that God and his son Jesus would never love a person like that. There may be someone like that listening even to this sermon this morning.
Jesus says: “I am here with healing in my wings!” Jesus first sermon in his home congregation included the following words from the prophet Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.” The Lord is here to set us free from the bondage of sin, guilt, despair. He is here to set us free from darkness. We don’t have to live in darkness but we can walk in the light with Jesus.
Notice what Malachi says happens after such a healing from the Lord:“You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.” Suddenly joy bursts it’s bonds. There is no end to the deep joy that comes from being redeemed, forgiven, loved, accepted, renewed, strengthened.
You don’t have to wait for Jesus to come to receive his healing. He already came 2000 years ago so that you can be healed NOW. And you can be ready for his return NOW. Don’t wait! Don’t delay! The big day for you can be TODAY. Today is the day of salvation! May it be yours!
