In the beginning of mankind, God created Adam and Eve and
placed them in the Garden of Eden. It was a picture-perfect paradise of
gold, precious jewels, plenty of food, and plenty of drink. They were
blessed of God so that their lives would glory in the moments of his
presence. They were to grow and to fill the earth, conquering in every
challenge of life. They were to rule the domain of their new home. It was
as life was to be, enjoying the fullness of the provisions of the grace of
God. But, then something happened . . . .
In the beginning of the nation of Israel, God brought his people out of
the bondage of Egypt and placed them in the promised land. It was a good
land freely flowing with the necessities for living the good life. God
would give them great and goodly cities, which they did not build. They
would find houses full of goods, wells flowing with water, vineyards and
olive trees that they neither built, dug, or planted. They were to
multiply greatly and to live well. They had inherited the promised land, a
place where life was as it was meant to be, enjoying the fullness of the
provisions of the grace of God. But, then something happened . . . .
In the beginning of the new people of God, God sent His Son to do for man
what had never been done before, live in the fullness of the provisions of
the grace of God. Jesus came bringing light to them that sat in darkness.
He came proclaiming the time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand.
The poor, the sick, and the depressed would be lifted out of the regions
of death. Those who found themselves in bondage, who were blind, and who
were oppressed would be taken gloriously to liberty. They were now living
life as it was meant to be, enjoying the fullness of the provisions of the
grace of God. But, then something happened . . . .
In the beginning of your walk with God, God sent into your life the power
of His Holy Spirit to reconcile you to His great love. You experienced His
affection, His acceptance, and His approval. You were delivered in a
moment, in a twinkling of an eye from the power of darkness to become
partakers in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of God. You were
strengthened with the might of the Holy Spirit and set free from the
bondage in which you had been trapped. Finally, you were living life as it
was meant to be, enjoying the fulness of the provisions of the grace of
God. But, then something happened . . . .
Why has the beginning of mankind, the beginning of the nation of Israel,
the beginning of the church, and the beginning of the believer’s life in
Christ always seem to experience the same failures? What was the coming of
Jesus, the Messiah (the Christ) , 2000 years ago really all about? What is
God saying to us?
It seems to be quite simple, after the revelation of Jesus Christ. There
is no act of creation, there is no institution of government, there is no
founding of a church, and there is no experience with God that can provide
the continual experiencing of the good life. Although man experiences the
life of God in an act of creation, in a government of God, in an assembly
of believers, and in the indwelling of His Spirit, there is nothing within
the creation, a government, a church or an individual that can produce or
sustain the life as it was meant to be.
Failure occurs for one reason and one reason alone. It is to reveal that
all things are of God. They are of him, through him, and to him. Nothing
occurs in life that is not to reveal that God has made the world and rules
it with His will.
One of the amazing truths of the Scripture is that it is not so much the
failure of the people that brings the wrath of God. It is their obstinate
refusal to return to God when He calls them to return. God is gracious and
his mercy endures forever. God just wants all men to know, for their
own good, that He is God.
Since the creature is formed in the limitations of a created entity, the
creature will always need the intervention of the Creator into its life.
The creature was made subject to the futility of life. It is not the way
that he would have made himself. In fact, it is this truth (man created
subject to the futility of life) that the creature resists all the days of
his life.
Salvation for man is to understand that Jesus came not to "save
him" as a one time act, but to be his continual Savior. God has
created all been subject to hope. Man may groan and travail in pain, but
the save man knows Christ is coming.
This is the story of Malachi, the messenger of God (the meaning of his
name). The central theme of his message is simply "Behold, He shall
come . . . ." The structure of the book states the love of God is for
his people — Chapter 1:1-5; the love of God is obstinately rejected —
Chapters 1:6-2:17; 3:7-15; and nevertheless God continually shows his love
— Chapters 3:1-6; 3:16-4:6.
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