James 5:8 reads, “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 also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! 10 My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. 11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment.” (NKJV)

This scripture brings our attention to the fact that Jesus is coming back again and His coming is soon (as shown in verse).

Jesus first came into this world as a human being and we celebrate His coming in a ceremony or festival that we generally call Christmas. Although He might not have been born in December or the 25^th, the good news is that He was born. Halleluiah, He came and we celebrate Him. The way He came was in a lowly manner, born in a manger into a poor family, with controversies surrounding His birth. He grew up as an ordinary carpenter who did not have much beauty. He came as one whose sermons were deemed as hard and were rejected. He came in a simple manner such that He was not received as a king (Isa. 53:1-9). He came to His own but His own did not receive Him … (John 1:11). This is how the Jesus of Christmas first came.

Now there is a second coming which is totally different from the first. This time He is coming with judgment and reward. He testifies to the church, “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” (Rev. 22:12 NKJV). In another scripture Jesus says, “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry” (Heb. 10:37 NKJV).

He further says, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:3 NKJV).

This is why the writer of James is now commanding us in 5:8 to be patient and establish our hearts in expectation of Jesus 2^nd coming. This is no better message for today than this one which calls our attention to the fact that Jesus is coming soon. James says the way to acceptable to Jesus when He comes is to expect Him with patience (James 5:8).

• Patience does not mean to “do nothing”. We need to be awake and alert, because salvation is nearer than when we first believed (Rom. 13:11)
• In this patience, there is gentleness (Philippians 4:5)

** You and I may say, ‘but it’s getting too late, when is He coming?’ But James says we should expect Jesus with patience.

Look at 5:8 and see how patience is described as a natural phenomenon as played out in the life of a farmer. He tills the ground, prepares it, plants, waters it or wait for the rain, remove weeds, put measures to prevent rodents from destroying the plant, etc. This process requires much patience, but it is necessary for harvesting the crop one day. This is how we need to wait, not idly, as we expect the King Jesus to come again.

Because there is a lot of work to do while waiting, you and I will need to put on the whole armor of God (Eph. 6:13) in order to be able to stand – since there will be a lot of temptations and wars that intend to derail us. Patience is not weakness, it is an eternal phenomenon. If you are going to be received by Jesus, you need patience with strong, unshakable heart (standing firm).

We may not know what the future holds but we know that Jesus is coming back again.

• Rather than focus on self or others, put your heart and eyes on Jesus, expecting His coming.
• Rather than make human beings your standard, make Jesus your standard; He is coming.
• Rather than see yourself as having attained, see yourself as a sinner who needs salvation.

When He comes back this time, He is coming as a judge, not a little baby or carpenter’s boy whose preaching can be rejected.

Examples: If Abraham could be patient, we can too (Heb. 6:13-15)

If Job could be patient, we can too (James 5:10-11)

Do not be in a hurry, God is patient. Let’s be like Him. Wait by doing His will in preparation for the result. The result is to see Him at His appearance and for Him to receive you as a saved soul. God bless you.