James 5:7-8 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 8 You should also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
Christians are compared to the patient farmers who sow and wait patiently for the outcome of their labour while at the same time depending on the weather (the early and the latter rain).Patient here has to do with our need to depend on God in facilitating the process of our farming (the work of the kingdom) and the outcome or result.James encouraged us to be patient for the coming of the Lord is near. Why will he link the patient of the farmer with the coming of the Lord? We hear in many Christians circles that we are in the last days (in fact, I believe we are at the last Chapter of the last days), but we never hear what we ought to be doing while we are waiting for the coming of the Lord. Unlike the farmer who wait for the early and later rain, we should sow the seed with the expectation to reap a harvest. If the farmer did not sow, he will not reap. While the coming of the Lord is certain, the Church must be in the business of sowing with the expectation to reap a harvest.
Matt 24:14 'And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.'
Please read - John 4:34-38.We must believe for the early and the latter rain:
Just as the farmer waits patiently from the time of the earlier rain to the latter rain for his crop to ripen, so Christians should patiently wait for the Lord's return (Gal 6:9, 2 Tim 4:8, Titus 2:13). While we are waiting. We have work to do. We must take care of the vineyard He is giving us to tend.
Eccl 11:4 'Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest.' (NLT).
When it comes to telling others about Jesus, the Churches of the 21st century are sometimes like the cautious farmer who keeps his eye on the weather, looking for the perfect day to plant his crops. The season passes and he sows nothing, the opportunity is gone, the harvest is lost. There will never be a perfect time to preach or witness to others. In fact, the devil will make it so hard for people to respond to the gospel. 2 Corin 4:4 says the god of this age has blinded the eyes of those who do not believe.
Irrespective of how hard a place might be, it is an opportunity for God to demonstrate His power.
The rate at which things are unfolding in our world today indicates that the devil knows that his time is coming to an end and Christians should wake up for our salvation is nearer than when we first believe (Rom 13:11). If we look around us, it is not too hard to see many people who are in need: those who have lost their jobs, loved ones, or lost their hope to live, and those who are sick, abandoned, despised, lonely and miserable. They could be your family, relatives, neighbour and friends or colleagues, and they could do with some encouragement. We pray that this message will encourage you to reach out to your non-Christian contacts. We can sow the seed - the good seed which is the word of God in their lives through ministering to their felt needs.
The Gospel of the kingdom has a voice, and you are that voice.
Your Friend Tony