December 31, 2006 - Malachi and Revelation 22
Many people try to justify their lifestyle, even though they are not following God's Word. They try to rationalize that their behavior is alright, even though God has said that it is wrong. This type of reasoning is always wrong. God sees through it all, because He looks at the heart. There is no way to get away with anything, because God sees everything, and He knows our motives. I pray that we will think about this truth as we read these two passages, and as we close out 2006.
The book of Malachi is presented as a dialogue between God and the people of Judah. It is what the people were saying, and it is God's answer back to them on a number of issues. In each case the people thought everything was just fine. They had engaged in that justification of their attitudes and actions that I was talking about. They said that God did not really love them, because He had not blessed them enough. (1:2) That was their justification for not keeping His laws. They offered imperfect sacrifices, which did not honor the Lord. The priests did not lead the people to keep God's laws. They practiced divorce, which God hates. They did not give their tithes and offerings. In short, they were not living as His disciples. They were going their own way, but they thought what they were doing was fine in God's eyes. Malachi came to show them that God was not pleased, and they needed to repent. The same message is true for us today. Either we are following God's will in attitude and action or we are not, but there is no way to justify a disobedient life.
Revelation 22 brings the Bible to a close, and it brings the discussion of eternity to a conclusion, too. We read about the Tree of Life and the River of the Water of Life in that beautiful place. Then, there is one last invitation to trust in the Lord and follow His Word. (v.17) The reason for this is that God knows that all of those who try to deceive Him will be left out of heaven. (v.15) He says that all those who practice a lie will not be in heaven. That is justification. It is living one way, and saying we believe a different way. God always sees through that. Those fake believers will not be in heaven. I hope we all realize that we can't fool God, and we should not want to try to fool Him. The life He has for us is much better than anything we could create for ourselves. Turn it all over to Him today, and start the New Year off right with Him. Then, stay that way each day. See how God will bless your life.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 1-3 and Matthew 1.
The book of Malachi is presented as a dialogue between God and the people of Judah. It is what the people were saying, and it is God's answer back to them on a number of issues. In each case the people thought everything was just fine. They had engaged in that justification of their attitudes and actions that I was talking about. They said that God did not really love them, because He had not blessed them enough. (1:2) That was their justification for not keeping His laws. They offered imperfect sacrifices, which did not honor the Lord. The priests did not lead the people to keep God's laws. They practiced divorce, which God hates. They did not give their tithes and offerings. In short, they were not living as His disciples. They were going their own way, but they thought what they were doing was fine in God's eyes. Malachi came to show them that God was not pleased, and they needed to repent. The same message is true for us today. Either we are following God's will in attitude and action or we are not, but there is no way to justify a disobedient life.
Revelation 22 brings the Bible to a close, and it brings the discussion of eternity to a conclusion, too. We read about the Tree of Life and the River of the Water of Life in that beautiful place. Then, there is one last invitation to trust in the Lord and follow His Word. (v.17) The reason for this is that God knows that all of those who try to deceive Him will be left out of heaven. (v.15) He says that all those who practice a lie will not be in heaven. That is justification. It is living one way, and saying we believe a different way. God always sees through that. Those fake believers will not be in heaven. I hope we all realize that we can't fool God, and we should not want to try to fool Him. The life He has for us is much better than anything we could create for ourselves. Turn it all over to Him today, and start the New Year off right with Him. Then, stay that way each day. See how God will bless your life.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 1-3 and Matthew 1.