One Who is Near

07.21.12

James 5.7-8 7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. 8 You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.

This morning I awoke and had my coffee, read the Word and enjoyed the cool, fresh mountain air. Other than the occasional barking of the ferocious beast named Sophie, the morning has been quiet and tranquil. I read about the harassment of Sennacherib, the king of Assyria against Hezekiah, the king of Judah. I read about the taunting of God by the servants of Sennacherib. I read about Hezekiah’s humility and his crying out to the Lord, and I read about the Lord’s deliverance. God is on our side, no matter the circumstances; He is always near.

And then I read in James 5: “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.” James wrote his letter a coupla thousand years ago and so I asked myself, “What is near?”

Well, God was near to Hezekiah when the armies of Assyria had built their siege ramps against Jerusalem. God was near to Hezekiah when the servants of the Sennacherib shouted their taunts against the people of God, and the Lord Himself. God is near to those who are His and who are in distress. It may not look like it, it may not feel like it, but God is near; He is never ever far away. God destroyed Sennacherib’s army and later, Sennacherib was killed by his own servants.

King Hezekiah lived about 700 years before the birth of Christ. (BTW: 700 years ago America didn’t exist and Columbus hadn’t yet sailed the ocean blue in 1492.) But God was near to Hezekiah and nearly 800 years later was near to His people to whom James wrote his letter encouraging them to be patient in their troubles because the coming of the Lord was near. And here we are almost 2000 years later and the Lord hasn’t gone anywhere; we’re still to be patiently waiting for Him. His return is just as imminent today as it was then; He is near.

Patience is a priceless virtue; a noble possession. Patience is not common or appreciated by most of the inhabitants of this world. We in the west are pathetically impatient. But stuff happens and somehow or another we are placed in situations where we are called upon to be patient: even though we knee-jerk, are impatient, and take matters into our own hands.

While Hezekiah lived (2700 years ago), a prophet named Isaiah wrote these words: Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. (Isaiah 40.31) There is not only promise in waiting (being patient) on the Lord, but there is reward as well: positive life change will happen, faith will grow strong, and regrets will diminish.

The Lord can be fully trusted in every uncertain season and jagged circumstance of life; He has emphatically promised to be with us the entire way – we just have to believe that to be true. James believed it and told his readers, despite what was happening to them, to hang in there, believe it; God is near.