Wait Patiently for the Lord!

3rd Sunday in Advent, 12/12/10
James 5:7-11


Wait Patiently for the Lord!
I. His arrival brings relief.
II. He blesses those who persevere.


How do you view the date December 24? Do you view it as an opportunity for joyful celebration or is it a hard deadline? If you’re honest, it seems more like a hard deadline than a joyful opportunity. We’re two weeks away from it and our heads are spinning with the thoughts of all the things we still need to do before it hits us. And if we’re traveling somewhere for Christmas, the deadline is even closer. Right now we hope we have enough time to wrap presents because we haven’t even had the time to finish shopping for them. But maybe I’m making an assumption here—the assumption that you’ve already started shopping.

And then you throw in the decorating and for some of us the Christmas baking, and the social events—each of which demands more preparation—and it’s no wonder that we fall asleep exhausted just trying to get ready for December 24.

But at least we have a date, a hard deadline. Try getting ready for something for which you don’t have a date or a time. Like what? Like the return of Jesus to this earth on the Last Day. Even though getting ready to celebrate Christmas can be physically and mentally exhausting, at least we know that when December 26 rolls around, we won’t have to get ready for it any longer. But with the Lord’s return, we have to be ready every day.

Well, the good news is that as you sit here this morning with faith in Jesus, you are ready for his return, as ready as you’ll ever be. Being ready for his return means that you trust in him as your Savior from sin.

And if you think about it a little, wouldn’t that be wonderful if he would return soon? It would mean the end of all your problems. It would mean the end of all your aches and pains and heartaches. It would mean the beginning of a perfect life of bliss with Jesus and all other Christians. The daily grind would be over. You’d never hear another discouraging word let alone another account of one human being’s atrocities against another.

If that’s the way you feel at times, then James wrote this portion of God’s word for you. He wrote it to Christians who were tired of suffering through all the struggles of life. He offered them strength and comfort by assuring them that Jesus would return. That return would bring them the life they were looking for. He assures us of the same thing. So wait patiently. Wait patiently for the Lord’s return. Let’s see what the Lord has in store for us as we wait for him.

Part I.

We’ve all been in situations in our lives in which we don’t think we can take it anymore. It might be pain from a surgery, an injury, a disease or illness. It might be the stress of an impossible situation. It might be the tension in a relationship that’s gone terribly wrong. We get to the point where we’ve had all we can take.

The Christians to whom James wrote this letter were at that point. The section from which our text is taken addresses the oppression of the poor by the rich. The rich lived in luxury but failed to pay their workers the wages they were owed. But it got worse. The verse before our text reads, “You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.” Some of their victims were poor Christians and the poor Christians had had enough.

James’ advice for these suffering Christians was rather simple. “Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming.” Perhaps his advice was too simple, at least at first hearing. These suffering Christians needed relief now, not on that Last Day when the Lord returns. They’re response to James could have been, “Thanks, but no thanks.”

But that wasn’t their response if they took all of James’ encouragement to heart. He goes on, “See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.” The farmer in the Holy Land knew the cycle of rains and the dry periods in between. He knew that nothing is absolutely certain in life, but he put that seed in the soil with trust—trust that the Lord was going to bless him with enough rain and sunshine so that his crops would grow to maturity.

And while waiting in trust he also waited with hope. He knew that finally his crop would bear fruit, the very reason he planted it in the first place. He may have to endure a period of drought or the infestation of pests or the damage done by storms or enemies, but he waited with hope knowing that even these difficulties would come to an end.

And that’s the point of connection between this illustration of the farmer and the Lord’s return. James reminds his readers who were being oppressed that when Jesus returns he will come as the Judge of all people. The poor people could take comfort in knowing that their oppressors would one day face that Judge. He would exact perfect justice on them.

But more importantly, his coming would bring relief. On that Last Day, all pain and suffering for the Christian will be ended. No longer will God’s people be bothered by sin and evil. His coming will usher in a life of eternal joy. That’s the Christian’s hope. That’s the Christian’s confidence because our Savior, Jesus, promised it to us.

So wait patiently for the Lord. His arrival brings relief.

If you’re driving in excess of the speed limit, the blue lights of the law enforcement officer’s vehicle cause fear and dread. But if your vehicle is broken down at night in the middle of nowhere, there’s no more welcome sight.

Which way do you view the arrival of Jesus on the Last Day? As a Christian you have nothing to fear. Jesus came the first time to win your forgiveness. He died to pay for your sins—all of them. He has nothing against you. He only wants to spend an eternity with you. That’s what he’s coming back to accomplish. And when he does, it will mean our rescue from the sorrow and pain, the death and destruction, the oppression and the evil of living in this world that seems to be racing to hell. Our earthly battle cries will be over and our heavenly victory songs will begin. We could all use a little relief from trouble every day. Imagine perfect, lasting relief! Your Savior will bring it to you when he arrives. I know he will because he died to attain that relief for you and he rose from the dead to assure you of it. So wait patiently for the Lord! Your relief is just around the corner.

Part II.

As we make our way out of the current recession, it’s been noted by some experts that at least three generations of Americans really don’t know what it’s like to suffer for an extended period of time. What we’re experiencing now is nothing like the Great Depression. Sure our country has been at war numerous times in the past 60 years but the general public hasn’t suffered for it all at.

But individually we know what suffering is. What’s the last thing you suffered through? Was it physical or mental? Was it something at work or with your family? Was it financial? Whatever it was, as we suffer through it we can easily take the position that it’s unfair. Somehow we rationalize that we don’t deserve to suffer the way we are.

James wanted his readers and you and me to know that suffering is a part of living in this sinful world, even though we’re God’s people. He encourages us to take a closer look at the history of suffering for God’s people. He writes, “Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.” Imagine that! Throughout the history of God’s people even those who proclaimed God’s word suffered for doing so. James is arguing from the greater to the lesser. If they suffered for that, why should we think we should be exempt from suffering? Suffering is a part of living in this world.

In fact, take a closer look at some of the greatest human suffering ever—the suffering that Job endured. Recall who Job was. The Bible describes him as one of the most pious, God-fearing men ever to live on the face of the earth. He was a stellar example of a child of God and yet he suffered like no other.

So what’s James’ point? Simply to make us feel better in our suffering by telling us that misery loves company? Not at all. Focus on these words of James, “As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.”

As the prophets and Job persevered through their suffering, the Lord had an opportunity to bless them. He showed his compassion by ending the suffering when he deemed best. In the case of Job he placed limits as to how far Satan could torment Job. When Job’s suffering ended, the Lord blessed Job with twice as much as he had before. In the case of the prophets, even if they were martyred, the Lord blessed them immediately with life in heaven. Whatever suffering God’s people are facing, James wants us to know that the Lord has a goal in mind for us—the goal of blessing us in some way.

And knowing that helps us persevere. So wait patiently for the Lord. He blesses those who persevere.

Just as the Lord doesn’t tell us when he’s going to return, so also he doesn’t tell us exactly how he is going to bless us when we persevere through our suffering. He simply tells us to trust that he will. And trusting him is what makes us ready for his return. That’s the goal for Advent Christians. When he returns all our troubles will end and not until then. Wait patiently for your Lord! Amen.