God's Book Of Remembrance

Malachi 3:13-4:6

Most people like to be remembered.  No one wants to be forgotten. When the invitation lists to birthday parties, weddings, or holiday parties are written up, we all hope our name is there.  We also hope our boss will remember us when he makes a list of the employees he wants to retain when a company downsizing takes place. In our Scripture passage today, from the last several verses of the last book of the Old Testament, the Book of Malachi, we read of a type of list that God has made.  Let’s look into God’s Word and see what He has to say to us.

As the prophet Malachi begins this passage, Yahweh, the One true God, is speaking to His people, as they have been complaining openly and vocally that serving God is just not worth the trouble, that there are no rewards for obedience to His Word (vs. 13-14).  They felt that it was a waste of time to serve God, because the wicked prosper, but not God’s servants. That is immature faith, placing trust in material blessings, rather than in Jesus Christ. What these people were really asking was what good does serving God do for me.  These people hypocritically made a show of repenting from their sins, but complained that religious activity was useless.  That is a selfish focus. We should be serving God because He is God, and deserves to be served. The wicked put God to the test, to see how far they could go in doing evil (vs. 15).

However, God has not forgotten those who fear and obey Him, and who meditate on His Name (vs. 16).  He has made a Book of Remembrance, with the names of all those who love and obey Him written in it. This Book of Remembrance could be a reference to the Book of Life, which records the names of all the believers in Jesus (Revelation 13:8; 21:27).  Very few people are remembered as each generation passes into history. Only a handful will be remembered after 100 years pass. Most of us are forgotten by then. Even names on a gravestone wear away in a couple hundred years. However, God remembers those who remain faithful, who love, fear, honor and respect Him!

We may feel like we have been forgotten.  We may feel like our life is useless, that we are no more than just junk.  However, God says that those who have accepted Jesus as Savior belong to Him (vs. 17).  We are His treasured jewels. When I have gone to the Natural History Museum in Chicago, I enjoyed going through the Hall of Gems, where valuable gems are displayed, the rubies, emeralds, sapphires, etc.  God has said that His children are like them. Diamonds come from carbon. Coal also comes from carbon. We may feel like our life is worthless, that we are like a chunk of coal, but God will make us into a diamond, a gemstone!  That is how He looks at us, His loved ones, His treasured jewels!

Not everyone is one of God’s jewels, though.  God’s wrath will burn like a furnace to the wicked (vs. 1-2).  The day is coming, a day of punishment for the wicked, and of deliverance for the godly.  All who refuse to turn to Jesus will be cast into the fire of hell. For those who do turn to God, they will feel the warmth and healing of His love.  Jesus is the dawn, bringing light to those in sin’s darkness.

As Malachi closes this passage, it is actually the final words in the Old Testament.  Then followed approximately 400 years of silence before John the Baptist came on the scene, calling for repentance and a returning to Yahweh.  John the Baptist was like Elijah, both in appearance and in his preaching of repentance and reconciliation with God (vs. 5). Jesus even said that John the Baptist fulfilled Malachi’s prophecy of a coming again of “Elijah” (Matthew 11:13-14; 17:11-13).

God will not turn a blind eye to the wicked and those who are guilty of corrupt worship.  He will rebuke them, and they will be punished. However, He will remember those who love and fear Him.  Their names are in His Book of Remembrance. God’s memory is eternal. He will never forget us! Be sure that your name is written there!