The Patient Watch for the Farmer’s Return

Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.

(James 5:7 NIV)

In Bible days, most of the people were engaged in agriculture. So, James used a powerful metaphor that everyone in his time understood: a farmer. Although most of us today don’t live on a farm or know many people who do farm professionally, I want you to take a moment to think about a farmer's journey. He sows the seeds, tills the soil, and then waits. He doesn't rush the process, understanding that growth takes time.

James is letting Christians know God is a great farmer who has planted the seeds for everything He wants to accomplish in our lives. We must wait patiently, knowing that His timing for the latter rain is perfect.

See, God does everything in seasons. For the first 4000 years of man on earth, God the Father was the only part of the Godhead that was really talked about. However, we know that Jesus and the Holy Spirit were there, even in Genesis at the creation of the world. God was a grand farmer, planning what was needed for Him to get us out of sin slavery. Once Jesus came down, and the Word was placed in the earth, Satan could not extract it. Jesus was on the earth then for 33 years and changed everything, leading the way for the ministry of the Holy Spirit. For the last 2000 years, the Holy Spirit has been leading the way in the church.

In the Bible, the number seven is the number of completion. So, our earth has about a 7,000-year lifespan; with 6,000 years before the millennial age. We’ve already been through 4000-something years and 2000-something years. We are coming up to the time of the end. We are almost at the end of the 6,000. Are we looking for Him every day? This is the heart of patient anticipation. Living with watchful hearts means aligning our lives with the expectation of Christ's return. It means living each day with purpose, ready to meet our Savior.

Practical Application

Understanding that time is short, we must share the truth of Christ's return with others. Encourage fellow believers to maintain their anticipation and invite those who haven't yet accepted Christ to do so.

Zechariah 10:1; Matthew 24:44

An Eternal Perspective

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (2 Peter 3:8)

We live in a world where every second counts. Everything is fast-paced, and a microwave can’t seem to cook food fast enough. In a world like ours, patience is a long-forgotten virtue. It’s comforting then, for Peter to explain this amazing truth about God the Father and His concept of time.

Peter said one day with the Lord is as a thousand years and a thousand years is just like a day. Too often, we're consumed by the urgency of every single task in our daily lives. We want answers, solutions, and results immediately. But God operates on an entirely different timescale. To Him, a thousand years are but a single day, and a day is as a thousand years. This perspective offers us insights into how God sees things that we often miss.

First, it highlights God's patience and long-suffering. When we grow restless waiting for prayers to be answered or for circumstances to change, God remains steady and unwavering. He sees time differently and uses every moment for His purpose. Our waiting is not in vain; it's an opportunity for us to grow in faith and reliance on Him.

Second, Peter lets us know about God's wisdom. He sees the big picture that we often miss because of our own shortsightedness. What seems like a delay or a setback to us might be part of a grand design we can't quite see yet because of our finite nature of understanding time. God's timing is always perfect, and it aligns with His divine plan.

As we journey through life, facing uncertainties, delays, and challenges, we need to remember that God's perspective is not bound by our limited understanding of time. He's working in our lives and in the world according to His timetable, which is always perfect.

Practical Application

When you feel frustrated or impatient, find peace in knowing that God sees your situation from an eternal vantage point. Stay faithful in using words of faith and know that He's orchestrating events that are ultimately for our good and His glory.

Psalm 90:4; Psalm 39:5

The Overwhelming Love of God

And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God. (Hosea 2:23)

This verse challenged the conventional beliefs of its time. The idea of God’s love being so overwhelming and vast was unheard of. It was a radical message then, and it remains a powerful message today.

It’s sometimes difficult to read Scripture with the correct mindset because we tend to interpret stories in our modern context. You may have heard all your life that God loves you or that God is good, but that’s not what many people in Hosea’s time heard. Imagine the context in which this prophecy was delivered. The Jewish people believed that salvation was exclusively for them, that they were God's chosen and no one else could share in His divine favor. But God, in His infinite wisdom, had a different plan. He intended to extend His love, grace, and mercy to all people, including those who had been considered "not His people.”

This concept of expanding God's love beyond the confines of the Jewish nation was originally met with anger, resistance, and unbelief. Even in the book of Acts, we see the disciples struggling to grasp the concept.

After Jesus rose from the dead, but before He ascended into Heaven, He spent 6 weeks teaching the people and making sure they got what they needed to begin the church. However, before He left, they asked Him, “So are you going to defeat the Romans now?” They didn’t get what He was teaching them about the Kingdom, so Jesus said in Acts 1:8: “You shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost comes upon you and you shall be witnesses unto me in Judea”…that was fine. Judea is the region they were in. Then Jesus continued, “… and Samaria…” I can imagine a disgusted look went through the crowd at that point. “You mean Jesus wants us to minister to those dirty Gentiles?” Yes! Jesus died for everyone! God wanted His love to transcend their cultural boundaries and prejudices.

Practical Application

Take time to break down barriers that try to separate you from others and embrace people of all backgrounds with the same love that God has poured out upon us.

Romans 9:25; Acts 1:8