In Malachi 4, we see two different endings to all humankind. Those who were proud and did evil will be burnt and left with nothing, but those who feared God during their days on earth will resurrect to life and receive healing from God Himself, the Sun of righteousness (Mal 4:1-2).

“Each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.” (1 Cor ‭3‬:‭13‬)

When the façades of politicians, celebrities, even prominent church workers, shatter to reveal the ugly face of pride and evil within, we realise that man’s outward appearance means nothing, like whitewashed tombs full of uncleanliness inside (Mt 23:27-28). Only those who truly know and fear God for who He is will remember His Law and guard their hearts diligently until the end (Mal 4:4).

“Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God does not see as man sees, since man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Sam 16:7)

Our works, achievements and our reputation in man’s eyes may cause us to think of ourselves as better than other people, yet these are never indicators of God’s approval. Unless the righteousness within us surpasses that of the Pharisees, we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven (Mt 5:20; 38-48; 6:1-18), and only Jesus can accomplish the work of true righteousness in our hearts, prefigured in Elijah and promised by God to all mankind in His last words through Malachi before the time of the Old Testament should end in human history.

“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” …“Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” (‭‭Heb ‭10‬:‭16‬-‭17‬)

Despite God’s warning of judgment, He left His creation with a faithful promise regarding the coming of Jesus. God Himself will become flesh and dwell among us. He will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers before the coming of that day. Jesus will open a new and living way for God to reconcile with man (Heb 10:19-20; 2 Cor 5:17-21), those who believe in Him will understand His love, only then can man reconcile with man.

“For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that those who live would no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose on their behalf.” (2 Cor 5:14-15)

The more we know Jesus, the more we see our unworthiness in His light. When we recall the debt of love that we can never repay to our Saviour (Mt 18:21-35), we should fear even at the thought of desiring punishment on our fellow servant for what they owe us. When we turn our hearts away from people, and even our family, we have no regard for God’s forgiveness (Mt 6:12,14-15). We have set ourselves above God and His word, having no fear towards God’s righteous judgment and being separated from our God forever.

“...so that in the ages to come He might show the boundless riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” (‭‭Eph ‭2‬:‭7‬-‭10‬)

Yet those who fear God will follow Jesus in His example of humility and obedience (Isa 53). Despised, rejected, afflicted and oppressed by the proud and evil, we learn to wait for God in silence, even in our sorrow, until the day when we shall find healing, when we shall see for ourselves the Sun of righteousness. Through Jesus, we can turn our hearts to those who have turned away from us, and look forward to the day when this Jesus who has loved and saved us, who has remained faithful to what He promised, when this Jesus whom we know and fear shall come again.

“For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” (‭‭Job‬ ‭19‬:‭25‬-‭27‬)