We are surely “in the last day’s” about which Paul wrote in his last epistle, saying, "Perilous rimes shall come." They are lucre! It is evident that men are "lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof." Mat does it say for us to do? "From such turn away" (2 Tim. 3:4-54Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (2 Timothy 3:4‑5)),
The spiritual state of the people is similar to the days of which Malachi wrote in the last book in the Old Testament. They kept the religious ceremonies and offered sacrifices of the lame and torn to God, while they were striving in money-making and procuring divorces to indulge their selfish lusts.
What God has to say to them has a strong and a dear message for us today. We quote Malachi 2:14-1614Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. 15And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. 16For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the Lord of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously. (Malachi 2:14‑16); "Because the lord hath been witness between thee and the wile of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. And did not He make one? Yet had He the residue [excellency] of the spirit. And wherefore me? That lie might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to Your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that lie hated) putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the Lord of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.”
Let us be warned, at this time in which we live, by God telling us what He says about divorce (putting away). He hates putting away! Divorce has become, in this century, a very common thing, but God still hates it.
As in Malachi's time, there was a little remnant of faithful ones and there is today also. God encourages them and so He does today for those faithful ones who are here in a great mass of empty profession. "Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name" (Mal. 3:1616Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. (Malachi 3:16)).
How very lovely and encouraging this is, but let us ask: Do we fear the Lord? Do we speak often one to another? Do we fear the Lord and think upon His name? If so, He hearkens and hears and writes it in that book of remembrance that is there before Him. Then He promises this: "And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels.”
He does not forget us; He remembers. Do you remember Him? In Isaiah 43:2626Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified. (Isaiah 43:26) He says, "Put Me in remembrance." Earlier in the book of Ecclesiastes He gives this exhortation: "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them" (Eccl. 12:11Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; (Ecclesiastes 12:1)).
Believers can have pleasure in the pathway of obedience, and in walking in communion with their Redeemer and Creator, even in these perilous times of being surrounded outwardly with evil. Ed.