Bible Reading: Job 34, Jam. 5:1-10
“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain” – James 5:7 (KJV).
Several people have spoken at different times about the coming of our Lord Jesus and he has not come yet. In the days of Apostle Paul, it was said that Jesus would soon come but up till now, he has not come. Based on this, the love of many has waxed cold. But that does not change God, Hebrews 13:8(KJV) says: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and forever.”
Part of the fruit of the Spirit is patience, so anyone who is truly born again and bears the fruit of the Spirit will be patient, waiting for the manifestation of the coming of the Lord Jesus. Just like a farmer that plants cocoa seed, while other crops are growing and bearing fruits year in year out, cocoa builds up itself and takes years to start bearing fruits.
We should also wait patiently for the coming of our Lord Jesus. Now while we wait, we need to ensure that we impact the lives of others positively; firstly by the type of life we live and secondly, by the way we touch the life of others.
When we bring good news to others and we impact their lives positively, they will also be able to share their testimony to others and bring them to the knowledge of Christ. However, our waiting for Christ should also entail following up our converts to ensure they are grounded in the word of God. There is nothing worse than winning souls without solid foundation. Because as storms come such souls will be pulled down easily and may find it more difficult to come back thus defeating the purpose of the message in the first instance. Thus in Luke 6:49 (KJV): “But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.”
To avoid a situation like this, we have to follow up with our converts and ensure they have a solid foundation so that when challenges come, they will remain in the Lord as stated by the Lord in Luke 6:48 (KJV): “He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.”
However, waiting for the coming of the Lord also requires self examination everyday to ensure we are obedient to his words and are therefore working out our salvation with fear and trembling. When we do this, then we can surely say that we are compliant with the admonition of Apostle James in James 5:7 (KJV): “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.”
Prayer: Father, give me the grace to be always prepared for the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Bro Biodun Oyapero