Prayer.
There is a saying ‘’I may not know what the future holds, but I do know who holds the future.”
On a personal level, this is of great comfort in our daily stresses, challenges, anxieties. On the big picture – where history is going – we do know what the future holds! ‘’The One who holds the future has revealed what the future he holds contains.’’
(Johnson, Johnson, Darrell W.. Discipleship On The Edge: An Expository Journey Through the Book of Revelation (p. 357-60). Canadian Church Leaders Network. Kindle Edition).
Philosopher Dallas Willard claims that we human beings think about the future “as naturally as we breathe.” Every human being, says Dr. Willard, is deeply concerned to know what the future holds. “Even those who say it [the universe] ‘popped’ into existence out of nothing do not think it will ‘pop’ into nothing out of existence.’’ Every human being implicitly realizes that there is something more to come, or, at least, hopes there is more to come. The comedian/actor Woody Allen once said, “I don’t believe in the after life, but I am bringing a change of underwear.”
Dallas Willard again: “The human mind must have some picture of the future.” What is yours? What is your picture of the future?
And a second thought : Our picture of the future automatically shapes the way we live in the present. We automatically live out, in the present, what we think the future holds.
We are focusing on James 5:7-12.
First. We notice the rhythm between the verses.
v7-8 it is about the coming Lord and patience is mentioned;
v9 the coming judge – and the use of the tongue and sins by what we say.
v10-11 – the coming end, to which the Lord is working
v12 the coming judgement – again the tongue is mentioned which leads to condemnation.
Speech has formed a major section of the letter – from 3:1- 4:12 – and he has again returned to that topic that we have to take it very seriously what we say to and about each other.
But four sections in this passage. Each looks forward.
v7-8 we expect a coming Lord.
v9 – there is a judge already standing at the door –
v10-11 – the purpose, the end of the Lord, about Compassion and Mercy
v12 – the coming judgement.
So put it together: Lord comes, bringing divine compassion and mercy
the Lord comes as Judge, bringing Judgement.
We can call it – Coming Lord, Coming Judge.
Coming Lord, Coming Judge.
7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. James 5:7
Coming
The word ‘’coming’’. Paul uses this word when talks about the ‘’coming of Stephanas’’ in 1 Cor 16,v17. And Paul uses the same word in Phil 2v12 when he talks about his presence with them in Philippi.
Presence and personal arrival those verses make us think of.
That Greek word is Parousia.
Until the Lord’s Coming – that phrase – reminds us that the Coming is an expected event.
Yes, but the way that word Parousia is used by Paul about his and the lives of others,
tells us when the Lord comes, the Lord’s Coming will is not only expected, but the Lord’s
personal arrival and his presence will be with his people.
This is not just the transformation of everything, it is his personal arrival and his personal presence with us.
Coming Lord.
Note here that James just says it – the Lord’s Coming. He does not explain it or prove it.
What do we know of the Parousia. For that let’s move outside of James.
The Lord Jesus spoke about it.
In fact as John Blanchard says ‘it is certainly probable that there are about 300 references in the New Testament, one for every 13 verses from Matthew to Revelation’.
We therefore have a sure foundation for our expectant faith. It was an event the Lord Jesus spoke about.
Jesus taught that his coming would be preceded by signs – Matthew 24.
When it would happen it would be vivid, visible, unmissable like lighting which would light up the sky – again Mt 24.
It will happen on a day which cannot be known in advance – again Matthew 24.
Those who are his, will be gathered forever into his presence.
We will be transformed and made holy. 1 Thess 3 and 4.
We will be made fully alive – 1 Cor 15.
People who do not believe may mock the idea of Jesus coming again.
But for Christians we have sure hope, for which James says : You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near James 5:8 Be patient and stand firm.
We prepare for his coming by holiness of life – 1 John 2v28.
The Lord himself will come with power – 1 Thess 4,v16 his foes will perish – 2 Thessalonians 1 and the current heaven and earth will be replaced by a new heaven and earth, a place where righteousness will dwell.
James does not need to explain it, or prove it, he just needs to say it. It reminds us that Advent – this Great Season – calls on us to have a sure expectation of the Lord’s return and to have the desire not to be ashamed when he shall come.
But why talk about the Lord’s return here and now in the letter.
7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming James 5v7.
The word ‘’then’’ matters. It points back. 5:v1-6 has described those stresses and pressure the Christians are under. The expectation of the Lord’s coming is to bring comfort, and joy, to those he wrote. They faced strains and stresses and so were encouraged to be ‘’patient’’ but also he wants to remind them of what the Coming will achieve.
That coming would put an end to all opposition and suffering would be a thing of the past.
When the Lord returns – v11 – As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered.
You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. James 5:11
He talks about what the Lord brought about, or what he completed in the Greek.
To say that in that place, means he talks about what the Lord will complete with his return, will be compassion and mercy in its full expression.
Compassion – that word can be translated as tender hearted.
And Mercy – behind that word of mercy – lies God’s beating heart of love.
Behind all that God has ever done for us, lies that heart of love:
how he chose us,
how he sent his Son for us who died for us,
for the blessings we receive in this life
for the eternal blessings to come,
for his daily and nightly care for each of us,
his provisions for us,
his personal dwelling within us, by the Holy Spirit;
and the hope of glory.
Theologian Alec Motyer said ‘’The wonder of the day of Christ’s coming
is that then the full content of that heart of love will come home in experience
to the people of this great and tender-hearted God.’’
We said Coming Lord, Coming Judge.
There is another side to his coming ‘’the Judge standing at the door – v9.
James says it to Christians – people like us – he calls them brothers and sisters – as he would have called us – he states a truth however, which we may say most Sundays in our creeds, but which I think we can easily forget, but it is a theme central to the returning Lord. Judge.
Again, James does not prove or elaborate the point. He makes it because they know it.
Again we go to Jesus. On this particularly it is important because an image can be
communicated – that Jesus only talked about love and judgement is an OT thing. But we find Jesus talked about judgement as well and himself as Judge
Matthew 25v14-30 and Luke 19v11-27 are the two places with two parables.
These parables talk about servants entrusted with the Lord’s goods in his absence. When the Lord returns he enquires how they have discharged their duties. In the parables we see how fake servants are revealed. But the main focus is on the real servants, and what they can present before their Lord.
Two points here.
First, when Jesus comes we will appear before his judgement seat – 2 Corinthians 5v10. Now it is important, when Paul says what he says, and when James speaks here, the issue here is not our salvation, but our reward. Paul states that all Christians will be saved – even if they have made the poorest presentation before the Lord. 1 Cor 3 Paul talks about a fire of judgement that burns but what it burns is the works – it cannot touch the person he says.
In Luke 19, Jesus speaks about money the servants receive. Money they can trade with. And at the end, they are to show the Master, what they have made of the money.
We possess – we have been given as Christians – salvation the Scriptures
the gospel message God’s presence in our lives by the Spirit spiritual gift
what have we done with these since they came into our possession?
what gains have we made in our walk with Christ? have we become more like Christ?
have we grown in maturity and holiness through his indwelling presence?
do we know Scripture in our every increasing deepening way have we told others about Christ?
Matthew 25 talked about talents – we have different abilities – which are God given. The
teaching in that parable points us to the question – in all our different abilities, have we devoted every talent we possess to him and to his service? are we really, all in for him?
Yet second – and this is important if you have switched off – note how positive the Judgement is.
The returning Lord in these parables is looking for what he can praise and when he finds it, it is not reluctant or cold, but warm and immediate and enthusiastic.
So when Paul uses the image of fire, it reminds us that the enquiry by the Lord is a searching and serious one. And Paul later says, that knowing this, he is motivated in his ministry by the love of Christ which compels him and the fear of the Lord. But the judge, is our loving, caring, compassionate, merciful, saviour, and that is a mighty comfort. And that leads our thoughts to be – how can we delight him at his return, by having something of eternal lasting value to lay at his feet.
Coming Lord, Coming Judge
Coming.
James says the coming of the Lord and Judge is at hand, it is near – v8. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near James 5:8 He is at the door he goes on to say.
Yet nearly 2000 years has passed since he wrote those words. He Lord still has not come. The Judge has still not stepping into the house.
This is a real challenge. John the Baptist in the Gospel thought he was mistaken as the first coming of Jesus wasn’t going as he expected. For us, we may feel like John, what is going on, have we missed something?
Yet we believe the Word of God is unbreakable, faithful, true, reliable.
Even if the Lord would come in the coming week, it would still be centuries since James insisted he was ‘’near’’. This is perhaps harder for us as we live and being formed in an instant culture where if our game or movie starts buffering with that blue circle on the screen, we immediately start asking who is doing what and maybe think we need more internet speed etc.
CS Lewis gives help I think. CS Lewis for those who like Narnia, you remember the wardrobe, and Lewis shares different spheres had different time scales. The children go into Narnia and spend what seems to them days, and later months and years. Yet when they return, they have not aged and it has been only seconds since they went into the wardrobe. Can that help us to see the difference between earthly time and eternal time?
The apostle Peter takes this idea in 2 Peter 3. He tells us the bible’s view – 1. the Lord is not slow in keeping his promise to return – v9; he will come; 2. his time scale and ours do not line up – to the Lord a day is like a 1000 years, and 1000 years like a day; 3. we see it as a ‘’delay’’ and maybe we are not patient but ‘’impatient’’ or perhaps even hurt as we know people who longed to be here on that day. But Peter says the Lord is merciful and compassionate, not wanted anyone to be unready when he comes. He loving generous hearts causes the delay we feel.
To close James reminds us – Coming Lord, Coming Judge.
Jesus said the day of his return was unknown. He challenged false expectations by hinting at a longer period before he would return. Yet he calls us to be in a constant state of readiness. The rest of the NT says discipleship needs that expectant spirit – as natural as breathing as it was natural for James to mention it without explaining things. There was to be a sustained readiness for a soon returning Lord and Judge.
I guess you received the manual for the Dutch Emergency Kit for each home to have essentials ready. I have to be honest – I saw my first reaction to the idea of keeping a water can with water full – as yeah right, I will see the signs, I will know when it is coming and then we fill the can. But the point was, what if it just happened – you could not get things ready then.
Jesus return. James words remind us that such readiness, such longing, such expectation is the mark of a truly NT apostolic faith.
‘’in relation to the second coming of the Lord Jesus, while we may look for signs, our first responsibility is not to devise a calendar of the future, and to predict as near as may be when he will come… Rather, it is to look to our hearts and lives to see whether we are ready to stand before him without shame and to his praise, glory and pleasure.’’ (Motyer).
May that we true of us all…
Almighty God,
purify our hearts and minds,
that when your Son Jesus Christ comes again as
judge and saviour
we may be ready to receive him,
who is our Lord and our God.