LEARNING DAILY

James 5:7, Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.

“Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord.” The last chapter in James’s writing begins with encouraging statement, and perhaps a warning. Turn to YouTube and you will see lots of prophets of doom and foretelling that the events like the rapture of the Church will happen on such and such a day. In fact, if you are reading this, those who prophesied that the rapture would occur on September 23 were wrong! Perhaps they misunderstood and it will happen in 2026 instead of 2025. If we listened to these voices, we would live in panic and fear, and would do all sorts of strange stuff. If I listened to all these so-called prophets of gloom and doom, I would have to buy more boxes of food so we would have something to eat during all these troubles.

I also had another thought that came to my simple mind. Remember the story of Chicken Little? If I remember right something hit him on the head and he thought the sky was falling which prompted him to tell every other animal he saw. The story was every animal believed him and believed they had been hit on the head by pieces of falling sky. When they told the fox, he invited the animals into his den for protection. That seems familiar to what these prophets are saying. Be so focused on the rapture and the second coming of Christ that we miss out on the blessing of walking with Him now on the narrow way in to His kingdom.

Be patient! Jesus promised to, “Go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” (John14:3). I believe He is coming soon to take Believers to be with Him. But if that time is delayed, be patient. No one knows when that time will be. Believers, be ready. Be looking for His return. Be listening for the trumpet to sound. “You stay ready because when that trumpet sounds you will not have time to get ready” (Paraphrased thought by Ed Newton).

Stop believing every person who declares he/she is a prophet and has gotten the last, the final word from God about when the rapture will be. Stop believing the “scholars’ who have devised ways to make God’s word fit into their desired reasoning. Instead get up each morning with the purpose of doing your very best to serve and live for the Lord as you can. Read/study/meditate on His Word (Yes, I wrote it again!), pray to draw closer to Him. May you hunger and thirst for His righteousness and place a desire for His kingdom before your own desires (Matthew 5:6 and 6:33).

Continue reading James’ example of a farmer who plants seed and must patiently wait for the harvest of the crop. I thought of my father-in-law who planted; while he waited, he cultivated, walked the fields to pull weeds, and maybe sprayed to keep insects and worms off the crop.

That is the same with Believers. Not one of us can hurry the return of Christ – we must be patient. But while we wait, we continue to walk the narrow way in faith and obedience!