08/30/2026
Pastor Larry's thoughts on this Sunday's (8-30-26) message "The Last Call", out of Malachi Ch. 4. We would love to have you worship with us. Worship service begins at 10:45 AM. Sunday school classes, for all ages, begin at 9:30 AM. Refreshments (coffee, donuts, etc.) starting at 9:00 AM
"The Last Call"
Malachi 4
We are now in the last chapter of Malachi. This last chapter gives warning and encouragement. This is the last time that the nation of Israel will hear from God, until the birth of Jesus Christ in the manger of Bethlehem. He gives warning and He gives encouragement in these few verses, in the last chapter in the Old Testament. We need to listen carefully, for the words that the prophet speaks from the voice of God are important for us to understand today. Yes, God is speaking to the nation of Israel in this passage, but there is much for us to understand about future events that will affect our world and the coming of Christ.
We see in this passage that there is a clear line of distinction between the ungodly and the people of God. He gives warning in the first verses that there will be judgment like never before on the unrighteous. Notice what he says in the last part of verse one, "He will leave neither root or branch". What does that mean to us? I believe that it is clear that the ungodly will one day be judged and there will be no recourse for them for eternity. Honestly, for myself, it causes me to examine my life and to know that I am a child of God and that there is no doubt by the way that I live.
I believe that today there are many people who say they are Christians but their lives show no fruit and I am fearful that on the great day of judgment, they will be short because they have not trusted Christ. Friend this passage clearly indicates that there is a great day coming. But there are two sides to that great day. One is for the unrighteous the ungodly, there will be a division and those who are not righteous will be cast into our darkness. That causes me great concern for there is no recourse for those who are not in Christ. That is why today is the day of salvation, don’t reject him!
There is another side to the judgment of God. Those who are in Christ, or as it is called in this passage, "the righteous". They will be protected by a loving Savior who died for them and who have placed their trust in the blood of Christ. Notice what he says in the verses that they shall be like stall fed calves enjoying the riches of the Lord. They will trample the wicked and find rest in the bosom of Christ. My friend that ought to be your hope today that you have confidence in the shed blood of Jesus Christ and his ability to save you for an eternity.
In the fourth verse he reminds the children of God to remember the Commandments of God and walk in the statutes and ordinances which he had given them. Today we do not have these Old Testament laws and rules that we must follow but we do have the responsibility of living a Christ like life. Salvation is not predicated on what you do in work but whether rather what you have done in receiving Christ and having a new life that is spirit filled and lead of God. I call it the good life not that we work to be better but rather we will work because have we inherited the promises of God, yet to be seen.
Now in the fifth verse God begins to speak about the prophet Elijah. He is going to be sent into the world before the dreadful day of the Lord. Without the remainder of the New Testament and the book of Revelation this passage would be difficult to understand. But I believe the Bible indicates that there will be two messages and one of them probably will be Elijah during the tribulation period, that will appear on the scene they will be resurrected from the grave and do unusual things during a very dark time in the history of the world. It clearly indicates that this will occur before the dreadful day of the Lord, in other words the return of Christ to the Earth, to judge the world. Notice what it says, "he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to their fathers". I don’t know about you but that sounds like a great day and does not look like the world we live in today.
We are now at the end of the Old Testament. The situation at that time looked very bleak, but the promise of God, that he is sending the Messiah should encourage you and I that one day he will return. As I look back on the Old Testament I see the hand of God from Genesis to the last chapter of this book. My friend what I see is that we have a faithful God who did send his son Jesus, to the manager of Bethlehem and then to the cross of Calvary. He took upon himself our sins and we can have salvation by putting our faith and trust in him. Have you trusted him and is there evidence you have done so.
May God bless you!
