A Time for Patience
“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
(James 1:2-4)
Recently we received a lovely letter from one of our readers and in it, she mentioned how she was lead to the above verse, which gave her hope. Her letter inspired me to write this article. She was feeling much like most of us are feeling today, after watching or hearing the news and all the troubles in the world. It seems that they just continue to go on and on and get worse and worse. It is hard not to be affected by all the misery that people are experiencing and how the truth is being hidden from us. Just yesterday, I was deeply affected at the news that a baby Orca whale had died off the coast here in British Columbia just hours after being born. The mother whale has been holding it on her nose and swimming around with it for four days. The animal world is suffering greatly from all the pollution and changing of habitat in which they live. We have not been good stewards to them. Now we are also fighting floods and at this very moment, major wild fires in Europe and North and South America. All over the world there is drought and famine, which could become one of our biggest problems in the near future. There are earthquakes everywhere now and more and more volcanic activity, which I believe could soon greatly affect us. Our Christian faith too is suffering greatly and being attacked from all sides. In many of our Israel lands, our lives are even under threat.
It is understandable that we are growing weary of this world and wonder how much longer this can go on. This is where the patience comes in! Our faith is being tried and we must put much of our time and focus in drawing near to God, knowing that He is in control and His plan is working itself out. It is not for us to understand everything that is going on but to trust in what He is doing and that He will see us through it all. This is our hope. Romans 8:24-26 says, “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” God knows we are struggling in this world, but He wants us to trust Him and to go to Him for comfort.
People today mostly live in the carnal world. Their world revolves around physical and mental things with little or no spiritual involvement. I have really noticed more and more how people appear to live in a cocoon where they are completely concerned with themselves and pay very little attention to what is going on around them. Where is their concern for their fellow man? What has happened to our Christian values? We have lost many of the values that made our Israel nations great. The way we live our lives should show these values of kindness, being polite, and showing patience. “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.” (2Peter 1:5-7); “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:” (2Peter 1:10)
We are weary, but the time is short and we can see the signs and wonders that God is revealing to us every day. Remember the promises God made to His Israel people, because He does not forget His promises as man does. Our job is to hold fast to our faith in Jesus Christ and be ready to give an account for what we believe. We are Watchmen, but we are also witnesses and must be an example to all those whom we encounter in our lives. “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” (Heb. 10:35-37)
Our patience will be rewarded! “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” (Rev. 3:10-11)
