THE LENS OF ETERNITY
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Scripture Reading: James 5:1-9
Be patient … until the Lord’s coming.
James 5:7
Farmers understand the need for patience. “See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains,” says James. Arnold Glasgow must have been thinking similarly when he wrote about the importance of patience: “You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it open.” In other words, as a familiar proverb puts it, “Good things come to those who wait”!
James was writing to believers who were being mistreated by people who were rich. By urging his readers to be patient, James wasn’t simply instructing them to be resigned to their difficult situation. Instead, he was reminding them that “the Lord’s coming is near,” and that when Christ returns, he will serve as the just Judge.
When Christ comes back from heaven, “with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God” (1 Thessalonians 4:16), he will set all wrongs right. Jesus is coming to give strength to the weak and to judge those whom the world considers strong.
Be patient then, James is saying, until the Lord’s coming, when the heavens and the earth will be made new and the Lord himself comes to live with us. It’s because we view life through the lens of eternity that we can be “thankful when things go well” and “patient when things go against us” (Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 28).
Prayer
Thank you, Lord God, that you are establishing a kingdom where “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.” Help us to persevere patiently in that hope. Amen.
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Again the thought of the length of “eternity” should teach us patience. Just how long is eternity? Forever ! No end ! How long do we live on earth? Even if you live say 200 years or 969 years (like Methusellah), it’s nothing compared with eternity. How long has God waited for me to repent? Almost 2000 years, since He sent His Son to die for my sin. Yet He put up with my sin and disobedience patiently. Why then can’t we be patient for a few days with ourselves and one another? If, as Christians, we view our world from the eternal perspective, we will not only believe that “patience is a virtue”, but also practice patience as a virtue. Lord, help me to patiently remain patient till you complete the work you began in me.
Luvly comment Gbenga. I’m becoming more of a Christian everyday. Although II’m quite patient, I believe I still have a lot more to learn from God’s kind of patience. Through turbulent times, it’s really difficult to be patient, especially when you see others (probably not even Christians) doing great. I think in order to have such divine patience, we truly need to set our eyes on eternity, that which is not of this present world. Mat God give us all the grace.
I agree with you Gbenga; God waits patiently for us to come to repentance and yet still even in our
repentance yet still He waits. Devine patience is right Eche. God like faith is to have devine patience.
To live a Zoe life {God kind of faith life} is to have devine patience with no measure. May the peace of
God be with you both throughout your families and for evermore. Love you both, Keep the faith!