By Kevin Harris, pastor of the Illawarra Community Baptist Church in Wollongong, NSW
Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
James 5:7-8
As long as we live in a fallen world, injustice is not only possible but likely. How should a Christian deal with it?
The preceding verses have described how wealthy farmers had cheated the labourers who had harvested their crops. When those who had been underpaid cried out, the Lord of Sabaoth (or Lord of hosts) had heard (verse 4).
This is the first right response from one who has suffered injustice. Cry out to God. Pour out your trouble to the One who sees all. He commands hosts of angels who assist Him to bring oppressors to justice.
Next, our text exhorts us to be patient unto the coming of the Lord. This word ‘patient’ is that word ‘longsuffering’ found in 2 Peter 3:9. We are to patiently bear with the injustice(s).
We would prefer that the justice be swift. The Lord of Sabaoth has better, wiser plans. He does not resist persecutors yet (verse 6). 2 Peter 3:9 explains that He suffers long with our sins not because He is slack, but in order to give us time to repent. Many is the oppressor who has finally broken, repented, and been transformed by the grace of God. The Apostle Paul is one such example of a transformed persecutor. Patience and God’s conviction won out.
This answers the problem of evil in the world. The sceptic suggests that since there is evil in the world, there must not be a good and powerful God. Scriptures such as these remind us that our good and powerful God will eventually bring justice. That He hasn’t corrected the wrongs yet does not mean He won’t ever.
Until the Lord Jesus returns and raptures us away, believers can expect injustice. We must bear long, holding out for Him to save us from a world of sin and injustices.
Verse 9 reminds us that ‘the judge standeth before the door.’ Justice is imminent. This is one of three times in this passage (verses 7, 8 and 9) where the imminency of the Pre-Tribulational Rapture is mentioned. He could come at any moment.
This absolutely rules out theories that we have to endure the initial events of the Tribulation. If we have to put up with the first half of the Tribulation, or even all of it, as some suggest, then Christ’s return is not imminent.
Like a farmer waits patiently month after month for his crop to ripen, so we wait. In the right time, our Saviour will return for the harvest of His people.
Verse 8 shows that a believer who anticipates His Saviour’s imminent return will be stabilised. No distressed hand-wringing. No miserable agonising. No tormenting of self with bitter thoughts of revenge. Only calm trust in our righteous God!
Father, how reassuring it is to have You to flee to for refuge. Even more soothing is the promise of Your return when You will both end our suffering and right all wrongs. Stabilise us as we draw close to You for comfort and strength, and as we rest in Your precious promises. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! I ask this in the Name of the Lord Jesus, Amen.
This article was written by Kevin Harris Dapto pastor of Illawarra Community Baptist Church.