Message from Malachi
A Prophetic Warning to the Church
Are You Part of the Remnant?
“”Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them.”
Malachi 3:16a
In the last part of Malachi 3 God shows us a clear distinction between two groups of people: those who complain and speak harshly about the Lord (Mal. 3:13-15) and those who fear the Lord (Mal. 3:16). And the difference between the two groups is profound. So profound, that the Lord took a book of remembrance and recorded the words of those who feared Him, those who held Him and His name in reverence, respect and awe (Mal. 3:16).
This second group, this faithful minority about whom God has written in the book of remembrance, is the remnant of God. Are you part of that remnant?
A remnant is defined as a “small, remaining quantity of something.” And that something could be food, or materials, or people— almost anything.
Biblically speaking, Noah and his sons were a remnant saved from the great flood. They were a “small, remaining quantity” of the population of the earth (Gen. 6). Lot and his family were a remnant saved from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19). God told Elijah He had reserved a remnant, “seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal” (1 Kings 19:18). These are just a few examples of the remnant of God.
In Scripture, the faithful in Israel are also called a remnant. Paul, quoting Isaiah 10, says: “Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, the remnant will be saved” (Rom. 9:27). This means a small portion of believing Jews will be taken, by the sovereign grace of God, from the great multitude that makes up Israel and be saved— literally, a “small, remaining quantity” of Jews will come to faith in their Messiah, in their Christ. This again is the remnant of God.
But for us, the church, there is also a remnant that will be saved and redeemed. That’s right, just a remnant. Why? Because Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matt. 7:21). Note, that’s not everyone who says— but everyone who does.
Who is the Remnant?
They are the ones who “count the costs” of following Jesus and give all to Him (Luke 14:28). They are those who “deny themselves, take up their cross and follow Him” (Matt. 16:245). The remnant are those who consider everything in this world rubbish, except knowing and gaining Christ (Phil. 3:8). They are the ones who are singly focused on Jesus, totally devoted to Him, and do not want to know anything but “Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2).
Are you part of the remnant?
The remnant is the seed that sprouted some 30, 60, 100 fold and not the seed that fell on the path or in the shallow, weed-infested soil (Matt. 13:1-9). The remnant endures to the end (Matt. 24:13; 1 John 2:19). The remnant bears the spiritual fruit of God (John 15:1-8) and also bears the brand marks of Christ (Gal. 6:17). The remnant proudly proclaim, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13).
Are you part of the remnant? Or are you simply a member of a church?
There is, like the distinction God made in Malachi 3, a huge and profound difference between the two. One is the wide road that leads to destruction and the other is the narrow gate that leads to life. And Jesus said, “there are few who find it” (Matt. 7:13-14).
Choose Today Whom You Shall Serve
Which road are you on? Both have signs, bright flashing billboards that say, “This Way to Christ!” But only one leads to true salvation.
Are you part of the mass, the unbelieving crowd, the deceived multitude of those who “have a form of godliness but no power”? (2 Tim. 3:5). Or, are you part of the remnant of God? Are you a child of His, “and if children, then heirs— heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ” (Rom. 8:17).
Which are you? Because the answer to this simple question is the difference between eternal life or eternal death. It’s not something to trifle with, to ignore, or to blow off. You must “choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve” (Jos. 24:15). And you must “examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?— unless indeed you are disqualified” (2 Cor. 13:5).
Why? Because all eternity is at stake!
“But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Jos. 24:15).
