Be patient for the Lord’s time.

 

Sermon for Advent 3, December 11, 2022

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.  All who do his precepts have good understanding.  Amen.

James 5:7-11  ⁷Therefore, brothers, be patient until the coming of the Lord.  See how the farmer waits for the valuable harvest from the ground, patiently waiting for it, until it receives the early and late rain.  ⁸You be patient too.  Strengthen your hearts because the coming of the Lord is near.  ⁹Do not complain about one another, brothers, so that you will not be judged.  Look!  The Judge is standing at the doors!  ¹⁰Brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord as an example of suffering with patient endurance.  ¹¹See, we consider those who endured to be blessed.  You have heard of the patient endurance of Job and have seen what the Lord did in the end, because the Lord is especially compassionate and merciful. (EHV)

Be patient for the Lord’s time.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

            Could you imagine the laughter of the neighbors if a farmer would plant corn and two weeks later pull into the field with his combine expecting to begin harvest?  Likewise, what farmer would ever have success if he refused to plant until conditions were perfect to guarantee a great crop?

As you might expect, I have some experience in this.  When I was planting corn in April, or early May, I certainly didn’t plan on eating roasting ears the next day.  Any farmer worth the title knows that planting is a leap of faith.  He puts the seed down trusting that the rain will come, both early rain to get the crop off and growing and the later rains to fill the seed heads and push the plants to maturity.  Without rain, there is no harvest.  Now, we sometimes worry about getting enough moisture, and at other times we worry about getting too much.  So, is God unfair in either case?  Of course not!  Rather, He works all things according to His plan for the good of all.  Simply, we need to Be patient for the Lord’s time.

Now, as much as we know we need to wait patiently for the rain, how often does our patience with God and His plan grow thin?  Who among us hasn’t wondered about the weather being just what we need?  Who among us hasn’t complained about a neighbor, a spouse, or a child?  We might well ask how often our parents wondered if we would ever grow up, and the same thought may have crossed our minds about our own children.

We live in a world in which complaining has become a national pastime.  The refs for that ball game were terrible!  That driver is going to get someone killed!  The politicians are doing a terrible job.  The rich are stealing from the workers!  The workers are stealing from the owners!  My coworkers aren’t doing their fair share!  Why doesn’t God put a stop to those who commit violence?  Why does God allow this world to keep going in its depravity and evil? 

The list of our impatient complaints could go on and on.  To be honest, though, every time we complain about anyone or anything, we are putting God in our crosshairs with our accusations.  If we complain about our neighbor, we need to remember that this a person God created and loves.  If we complain about our world, the weather, or the government, again, we are complaining about what God provides for our good.  Even if we complain about ourselves, we need to remember that “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared in advance so that we would walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)  Therefore, rather than complaining about what God gives us, or what we think He has failed to provide, we should be putting ourselves in position to do the best we can with the blessings God made in us.

Now, don’t get me wrong, God does not provide the wickedness we see.  The Lord is never evil and doesn’t cause evil.  Neither does God desire that anyone do evil things.  All the wickedness and lack of love in our world comes from the devil and from hearts infected with sin, including our own.  Yes, that is a hard thing to admit, isn’t it?  The same evil inclinations that drive so many others to do terrible things is also there in our own hearts, working away at the good desires our Savior implants in us with faith, trying to lead us back under the devil’s control.

So, what are we to do?  The first thing we need to do is to stand before the mirror of the law and admit that the real problem is in us.  We are the guilty ones we need to be worried about.  As Jesus said, “First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:5)  We need to repent for our impatience, our lack of trust in our God to provide, our quickness to condemn those who offend us, and our slowness to love as the Lord has loved us.  Then, in repentance, God forgives us, “because the Lord is especially compassionate and merciful.”

The second thing we should do is heed the guidance James gives us here: “You be patient too.  Strengthen your hearts because the coming of the Lord is near.  Do not complain about one another, brothers, so that you will not be judged.  Look!  The Judge is standing at the doors!”  Just as God “is patient for your sakes, not wanting anyone to perish, but all to come to repentance,” (2 Peter 3: 9) so we should be patient with God and with our neighbors.  Regarding our neighbors, Jesus said, “Love your enemies.  Do good to those who hate you.  Bless those who curse you.  Pray for those who mistreat you.” (Luke 6:27-28)  He also instructed, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

Really, all of this is sanctification.  James is reminding his fellow believers (including us) that this is how we are to live as redeemed children of God, loving others not as our sinful flesh would demand—which requires a reward for our service—but showing the new life of holiness Christ has put over each of us through faith.  When we are impatient and judgmental with others around us, we are building walls that might keep them from the love of Christ, for it is always true that, in this world, forgiveness and salvation is spread from one redeemed and sanctified sinner to the next.  Thus, in defense of our neighbor’s good name, Luther instructs us, “We should fear and love God, so that we do not lie about, betray or slander our neighbor, but excuse him, speak well of him, and put the best construction on everything.”  Likewise, just as St. Paul wrote, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ has forgiven us.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Striving to strengthen our faith with the example of God’s prophets who were so often hounded by friend and enemy alike, yet they stood firm in faith, proclaiming the Lord’s message of salvation in spite of the threat of death, and even though many of those prophecies wouldn’t be fulfilled until long after the prophet had been called out of this world, James wrote, “Brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord as an example of suffering with patient endurance.  See, we consider those who endured to be blessed.” 

Prophets like Jeremiah were imprisoned, tortured, and finally killed for their faithful preaching.  Hosea had to endure an unfaithful wife, taking her back time and again after her indiscretions and adulteries, so as to proclaim to the people the message of God’s faithfulness and mercy. 

The first Christian martyr, Stephen, boldly declared to his murderers, " Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute?  They killed those who prophesied the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become His betrayers and murderers.” (Acts 7:52)  Standing firm in his faith in Christ, Stephen endured to the end, and though the Jews killed him with a shower of stones, he was blessed with eternal reward in heaven.  That promise of salvation by faith is true for you as well.

Finally, and indeed most importantly, remember what Jesus has done for all of us.  James used the example of Job, who God allowed to be stripped of every earthly blessing yet in the end restored to him all his former wealth.  In this, Job foreshadowed Jesus.  The Son of God came down to earth to live in our impatient world.  Daily, for all His years on earth, Jesus dealt with people who slandered Him without shame.  Living among so many who dishonored His God and Father, Jesus walked graciously and kindly, healing their illnesses, driving out the demons, teaching God’s love to the fearful, and patiently instructing men who often wanted their own way instead of God’s plan.

Jesus never questioned God’s plan for this world.  The Son, who had from eternity enjoyed dwelling at His Father’s side in heaven, willingly did everything asked of Him, and endured the suffering, shame, torture, and death that should have been ours as rebels against God.  Entering our world as a helpless infant, the Almighty Son of God chose patient endurance as a Man so that we who are so guilty of impatience might be declared innocent and granted pardon before God.

The ancient patriarchs and the prophets of old never got to see the fulfillment of their prophecies.  Many of them endured persecution and trials far more grievous that anything we have yet faced.  However, God had a plan—a plan to save them, and a plan to save you and me and many others.  Every detail had to happen exactly according to God’s plan so that there would be no doubt that His Son came to deliver sinners from eternal condemnation.  Today, those ancient believers are enjoying eternity in heaven while still waiting for their bodies to be raised from the grave.  Likewise, on this side of the grave, you and I must wait for the completion of what remains to be fulfilled, just as God waits patiently before Judgment so that His house may be filled with more of the redeemed and sanctified elect.  That is why James tells us, “Therefore, brothers, be patient until the coming of the Lord.” 

Though many wicked people seem to avoid consequence for their evil actions, the day is coming when those who have rejected the Christ will pay.  While earthly troubles may tempt us to doubt God’s promises, and while our patience may grow thin at times, God’s patience and promises are never in doubt.  The promised Messiah has arrived, and He lived perfect obedience and patience in our stead.  In our place, He took the punishment our sins deserved.  Then, victorious over sin, death, and the grave, Jesus returned to His Father’s side in heaven in glorious triumph.  By His patient, faithful endurance, and His willing sacrifice for you and me, Jesus has won the wealth of His Father’s kingdom in the souls of sinners saved and made righteous before God.

Still, our Lord Jesus will return in triumphant judgment on the last day to cast out the wicked but to bring home to heaven all who trust in Him “because the Lord is especially compassionate and merciful.”  Therefore, Be patient for the Lord’s time because “The Lord is not slow to do what he promised, as some consider slowness.  Instead, he is patient for your sakes, not wanting anyone to perish, but all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)  Amen.

Our God will fully supply your every need, according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.  Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever!  Amen.