Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord.
— James 5:7
JESUS IS COMING AGAIN—not as a babe in a manger, but as the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He is coming to reign in righteousness over the earth. And He’s coming quickly. Three times in the last chapter of the Bible, Jesus used the word “quickly” to describe His coming.
“Quickly.” That is what He said. But 2,000 years have passed and He hasn’t yet come. For that reason, people often scoff at talk of His return. Peter wrote about those scoffers in chapter 3 of his second book, and then explained, “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish” (2 Peter 3:8-9).
THE LORD HAS A GOOD REASON FOR DELAYING HIS RETURN.
James tells us that God is waiting for the perfect fruit of harvest and has long patience towards it. I was hoping that the Lord would come back in 1978, but I am very glad He didn’t. Just think where some of you would be today if He had. He is waiting for more.
I imagine that He is as anxious to take us home as we are to go, but He is giving others an opportunity to become a part of His family. Wait patiently and establish your heart, because the Lord is coming quickly.
Father, thank You for the glorious hope of the coming again of Jesus Christ. In the meantime, please give us patience as we wait.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.