Malachi 3:16 (NKJV)

Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, And the Lord listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the Lord And who meditate on His name.

I have always viewed this verse as the people who were faithful to God having fellowship with each other then writing a book about all the things God has done for them as a keepsake. That is a good thing, like keeping a journal of your spiritual journey with the Lord. In fact, the Old testament is really just that, a history of God's dealings with the Israelites. But looking at this verse more closely, I realize that it is God writing the book in this case. Of course with the inspiration of scripture, God wrote the bible too. But I see this as a special book. The verse says that it was written "before Him" which I take to mean in his presence. And the occasion was that God had listened and heard the people speaking to each other about spiritual matters. He was pleased and this book represents God's awareness of everything we do. This book however will be used to judge our works, not for the purpose of deciding our fate, but rather for the purpose of reward.

Revelation 22:12 (NKJV)

"And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.

Malachi 2:13-16 (NIV)

Another thing you do: You flood the Lord's altar with tears. You weep and wail because he no longer pays attention to your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands. You ask, "Why?" It is because the Lord is acting as the witness between you and the wife of your youth, because you have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.

Has not the Lord made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth.

"I hate divorce," says the Lord God of Israel, "and I hate a man's covering himself with violence as well as with his garment," says the Lord Almighty.

So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith.

You've have heard the common salutation "Keep the Faith." I haven't heard it much in recent years but twenty years ago, it was quite common. What we meant by it was similar to what we mean when we say "Hang in there" today. Keep believing, keep trusting; know that it is going to work out. I find it interesting that God uses this term in speaking of marriage. Actually He says it in the negative "Do not break the faith." Marriage is a covenant relationship. That is why we call them marriage "vows." It is a promise to be faithful. The other person can "keep the faith" knowing that you can be trusted. By not being faithful to your promise, you have "broken the faith." Divorce happens not because "we just don't love each other anymore." It happens because one or both are no longer trustworthy. It is a broken faith. This is no lightweight matter. God says he hates divorce.

I suppose about half the people I know, maybe more, are divorced and remarried. If you are divorced it is because of sin and unfaithfulness. Are you then ruined, no longer fit for God's service? No more so than any sinner and we are in that category. God can use you but it will be through brokenness, repentance. You can never escape the consequences of sin in this life. But you can escape the burden of it. From this day forth, do as God says, "Guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith."

Revelation 20:15 (NIV)

If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Christmas season is coming up and we hear the familiar tunes again. I keep hearing in my head "He's making a list and he's checking it twice." You know, the naughty and nice thing. We'll I can tell you, I probably deserve to be on the naughty list. I am reminded of the times I've slipped up and let my tongue get unruly, and the times I've suppressed the leading of the Holy Spirit to do the right thing. I'm talking about recently too. The list this verse is talking about is a different type of list from Santa's however. You can't call it the "nice" list because there are some really bad dudes on this list, or at least they used to be really bad. I'm not really bad but like I've already confessed, I'm not so good all the time either. The difference is, that I don't enjoy being bad. My pastor once said, that now that he's saved, he sins all he wants to...he doesn't want to anymore. The biggest difference in this list from Santa's is that once you get on this list you don't get off. That's called security, the eternal kind.

OK, so I've been beating around the bush. After hitting you with this verse, I wanted to lighten things up a little bit to keep you around long enough to read this far. You've already read the heavy stuff and I'm reminding you of it now. There is a time limit to get on this list. It's called life. You may have lots left or you may have just a few more hours. Thrown into the lake of fire, that's a terrible consequence of not getting your name written in the book of life. You know what it takes--surrender. Give it up, give your life over to Christ. Let him be Lord and master of your life. Trust in the promises of God, you can find them in the Bible. The bible calls the promises exceedingly great and precious. Escape the wrath that is to come. This why it is called "being saved."

Revelation 19:11-16 (NKJV)

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

This must be the most stirring description of the second coming of Jesus Christ in the Book of Revelation. I find myself like the kid at the movies standing up to cheer the hero who comes to save the day. This hero is faithful and true, but he is also fierce with wrath.

I remember when Jesus was about to be taken away by the Roman soldiers there in the garden. It felt wrong; I was with Peter wanting to resist this wrong arrest. Remember how Jesus said he could call down twelve legions of angels if he wanted to? I wanted Him to do it so badly. Well, here it is, and it is so right. Of course, reality will be different. I can cheer now reading it but then I will be laying down prostrate in sheer awe and worshipful terror.

I love you Lord...

John 3:16 [NKJV]

For God so loved the world

... because you first loved me.

I love you Lord...

John 3:16 [NKJV]

For God so loved the world

... because you first loved me.

Psalm 144:3-4 (NIV)

O Lord, what is man that you care for him, the son of man that you think of him? Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow.

On a cold winter's morning, step outside and exhale. Your breath shows up like a puff of vapor that lasts for a couple of seconds. That is our life; a couple of seconds compared to eternity. What can a person accomplish in that time? Actually what we do in that time is eternally significant. It is in that period of time that we decide that God is indeed interested in us, and most importantly that we are interested is Him. You see, God is a gentleman, He will not force himself upon us, if you don't want to spend eternity with Him, then you won't.

Revelation 15:4 (NIV)

Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed."

There are many who do not fear God now. There is coming a day however when God is revealed in an awesome display of power and might. This chapter of Revelation speaks of the end of God's wrath and here in this verse we see that even God's wrath is a righteous act. It is easy to go through life and not be aware of God's omnipresent nature. The book of Revelation is all about a clear revealing of God. Many atheists complain that if there were a God, then why doesn't he show himself. From what I can tell however, such an appearance would be too much for unrighteous beings to withstand. God alone is holy and righteous. Of course, when I speak of the revealing of God, I mean the revealing of Jesus Christ who came the first time as a servant laying down his own life for us. He is revealed in his second coming as mighty king exercising judgment. The first time only a few recognized him and believed him. The second time everyone will believe because there will be no doubt.

Romans 14:11 (NKJV)

For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God."

I love you Lord...

John 3:16 [NKJV]

For God so loved the world

... because you first loved me.

Psalm 141:3-4 (NIV)

Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers; let me not eat of their delicacies.

Jesus said it is not what goes into a mouth that defiles a person but what comes out. The book of James chapter three says that the man who can control his tongue is a perfect man able to control his whole body. I remember an illustration given to children in Sunday school. The teacher brought a tube of toothpaste to class. He asked the kids to squeeze some out onto their hands. After several of the boys gleefully carried out his instruction, the teacher told them to put the toothpaste back in the tube. Of course, they made a worse mess trying but failing.

We do that with our words. Once they spill out it is nearly impossible to undo the damage. I am praying this prayer of the psalmist now. How easy is to get caught up is all the offerings of the world! I pray that all my conversation be pleasing to the Lord.