patient as we wait

James 5:7 (ESV)

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.

Farmers understand the need for patience. “See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains,” says James. Arnold Glasgow must have been thinking similarly when he wrote about the importance of patience: “You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it open.” In other words, as a familiar proverb puts it, “Good things come to those who wait”!

James was writing to believers who were being mistreated by people who were rich. By urging his readers to be patient, James wasn’t simply instructing them to be resigned to their difficult situation. Instead, he was reminding them that “the Lord’s coming is near,” and that when Christ returns, he will serve as the just Judge.

When Christ comes back from heaven, “with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God”,  he will set all wrongs right. Jesus is coming to give strength to the weak and to judge those whom the world considers strong.

Be patient then, James is saying, until the Lord’s coming, when the heavens and the earth will be made new and the Lord himself comes to live with us. It’s because we view life through the lens of eternity that we can be “thankful when things go well” and “patient when things go against us”.

Dear Lord, thank You that You are establishing a kingdom where there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain; Help us to persevere patiently in that hope. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Mica and eternity

Matthew 6:19-21(ESV)

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

We were vacationing in the Smokey Mountains one summer.  As we liked to do we found a place to pull over to check out the rocks. 

As we walked, we came across rocks all over. The area glistened in the bright sunlight as the sun reflected off the large flakes of mica on the rocks.

I have always been fascinated by mica.  I picked up a large piece of mica and examined it closely. It was made up of many layers, each of which reflected the sun, but each of which peeled away like onionskin, soon leaving me holding but a dull, worthless rock.

It struck me that much of our lives are spent in chasing flakes of Mica. We hunt for valuable treasures, shiny bits of precious metals, for little nuggets of knowledge, for possessions, for status and for recognition. They seem so attractive when we have them in our hand, but in the end they all peel away leaving us empty and holding nothing of more value than a chunk of rock.

It's no wonder Scripture admonishes us to look for things of eternal value, things that will hold up and last forever.

What holds up in eternity? A personal relationship with Jesus, sharing His love with others, meeting the needs of those around us, acts of obedience and worship, prayer and praise will all stand the test.

When you stand in front of Him at the seat of judgment will you bring an offering of great value from a lifetime of service in His name or stand before Him holding a worthless chunk of stone?

It's never too early or too late to begin storing up those treasures in heaven. If you haven't done so, or you drifted away for a while, it's time to begin.

Dear Lord, we thank You for the things in nature that can teach us lessons. Help us not store up treasures on this Earth but instead store up treasures in Heaven. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.