The Day of the Lord is one of those topics … you now the ones that people have debated since the very first century! While there are differing views on when it will come and the nature of the world when it does, there are some things we can know for certain.
 
Malachi helps us see a worldview in light of this coming time that says history is moving forward, evil won’t continue forever, and pride will not have the final word. He will come to answer injustice and His arrival will mean certain judgment for all that is wicked in this world, but also healing for all those who fear His name.
 
Many of us often develop an incorrect mental model of judgment and mercy, seeing them as mutually exclusive events. But for God to heal this broken world, evil must be dealt with in a real and final way. For righteousness to rise, rebellion must be squelched. To the arrogant and proud, the Day of the Lord is a terrifying idea because their false strength will be laid bear for all to see. But for those who fear His name, His coming is like a warm sunrise after a long cold night.
 
Malachi invites us to see reality through the eyes of expectation. It’s easy to see the world as belonging to the proud, violent, and spiritually careless, but Malachi declares otherwise! This world belongs to the Lord, and He is coming to reclaim it. His day will reveal the truth about everything.
 
Part of the beauty of this passage is what we are promised. It isn’t mere survival, holding on for dear life until some sort of relief comes. It’s healing and freedom on a scale we can only imagine now. Malachi pens an incredible picture of this day when he says, “The sun of righteousness rises with healing in its wings, and the people go out with the joy of calves released from the stall.” He paints a picture of carefree release, of delight … of a life of freedom after being bound for so long.

Darkness and evil are real enough and are serious opponents, but they aren’t eternal nor are they sovereign. To fear the Lord isn’t to give in to dread and worry that pushes us away from Him, it’s a reverence and awe that teaches us to stand in the light of His healing as it rises.
 
The Lord is coming, and His coming will make All Things New!

There’s no shame in admitting that sometimes we feel as though darkness, pride, and injustice will go on forever, unchecked and unthwarted. Where have you felt this way in your life? How can embracing Malachi’s message help you to see His coming as both holy judgment and healing hope?

Father, I have a tendency to see the world in light of the darkness around me. Help me to see it through the light of Your coming Day. Teach my arrogant heart to fear Your name with a reverent awe, to trust Your justice with patience, and receive your full and complete healing with expectant joy. Amen.