The transition from one generation to another is a vital and critical time. Malachi was sent to the third generation of Israelites after the return from Babylonian captivity. His prophecy reveals that the first generation had an experience of God and set themselves zealously to the building of God's house, the second generation descended into a dead formalism of outward religion, whilst the third generation degenerated into a spirit of sceptical unbelief, questioning God and revealing contempt for his truth.
The truth portrayed in the prophecy of Malachi has been repeated in many cases throughout church history. Great movements of God have created strong churches taking a strong stand for truth. Then a second generation arises with a mere form of godliness followed by a third generation which have openly questioned God and his truth, with contempt.
Every liberal, sceptical and unbelieving, church, training institute, and denomination can trace its present condition from an original move of God which was replaced with a mere outward form of religion, ending up in the quaqmire of unbelief.
Malachi sounds a solemn warning to every church regarding its approach to the rising generation. Are we seeking merely to dress a corpse with a Christian appearence, when we ought to be in the resurrection business, seeking the regeneration of the next generation?
This is a timely message for every church which is concerned with perpetuating a Biblical testimony. |
