James 5:8

"You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand"."You too be patient" -For God's judgment is just as certain at the rain! "The point is not the length of time one must wait….but whether one will endure the period of waiting" (Davids p. 184). Be patient like the farmer, don't panic, but realize that God will deliver! "strengthen your hearts" -"strengthen, make firm, confirm one's mind" (Thayer p. 588). To be fixed and confirmed in one's belief (Romans 1:11; Romans 16:25; 1 Thessalonians 3:2; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:17; 2 Thessalonians 3:3; 1 Peter 5:10; 2 Peter 1:12; Revelation 3:2). Strengthen your emotions, wishes, and desires. Cultivate endurance and. strong dependence upon God. "for the coming of the Lord is at hand" -According to the Scriptures the Second Coming is always "at hand", for it could come at any time (1 Thessalonians 5:1). In their generation, what was also at hand was the judgment of God upon the Jewish nation.

Points To Note:

Christians today need. greater awareness that Jesus could come at any time (1 John 3:1). "If we knew Jesus Christ was coming back today, it would make. profound difference in what we do today. There are acts of obedience and commitments…that we would waste no time doing. If we thought we had only one worship service to attend before the Lord returned, it would make. difference in how we worship. If we lived in the expectancy of the return of Jesus Christ, we would be equipped for the pressures and the trials of life. We are to live in that kind of expectation" (Draper p. 151).

This isn't speculating about the Lord's return---rather it is living as if Jesus could come at any time-which is the truth of the matter. Living as if each day were our last, living as if our non-Christian neighbors could be facing judgment tomorrow.

Years ago. ran across the following. It is called the infidel's challenge to us:"If. firmly believed, as millions say they do, that the knowledge and practice of Christianity in this life influences destiny in another world, Christianity would be to me, everything.. would cast aside earthly cares as follies and earthly thoughts and feelings as vanity. Christianity would be my first waking thought, and my last image before sleep sank me into unconsciousness.. would labor in its cause alone. Earthly consequences should never stay my hands or seal my lips.. would esteem one soul gained for heaven worth. lifetime of effort.. would go forth to the world and preach Christ in season and out of season, and my text would be, 'for what is. man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall. man give in exchange for his soul?'"