“See I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers.” 

Malachi 4:5-6

At the end of Malachi’s prophecy, that great and dreadful day of the LORD hangs heavy in the air—great for those with godly fear in their hearts, dreadful for all who reject Jesus as Lord.

But God is faithful. He promised to send a final prophet to awaken the hearts of His people. According to Constable: “Whether the original Elijah will appear before the day of the LORD, or if an Elijah-like figure, similar to John the Baptist, will appear, remains to be seen.”* We rest assured that God has it under control.

This great prophet will project unity into the hearts of the fathers and children of God’s followers, those who fear the Lord. Their passion to pass on the gift of salvation will be all-consuming, beginning with those nearest and dearest.

For it is true—on that great and dreadful day everyone will know exactly Who Jesus is:

 At the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

 in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

 and very tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

 to the glory of God the Father. 

  —Philippians 2:10-11   

The pattern of generational drift is consistent. We read about it in Judges 2:10: another generation grew up, who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel. God was plain and clear from the beginning: Get (these commands) inside of you…inside your children…on (your) doorposts…and on your city gates (Deuteronomy 6:6-10, MSG). Your kids will know; so will your friends and neighbors.

Jesus said it this way: “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

Take it to heart: “our lives are the only Bible some people will ever read. Christians are to be living epistles, written by God and read by men.”**

Nancy P

All Scripture quotations are from the NIV 1973, 1978, 1984, unless otherwise noted.

*Thomas Constable, Sonic Light 

**Greg Laurie, Let God Change Your Life: How to Know and Follow Jesus