James 5:7-8 KJV
[7] 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. [8] Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
The verses before the one above address the rich and how their actions could show a lack of understanding of how God works and what He expects from all of us. No matter what it is that I have been given, I hold them, not as the owner but as the steward, because I cannot determine what happens to the possessions when I have left the earth. I hold and apply all of God's provisions as someone who knows what lies at the end of my journey on earth. The verses above make it clear that nothing down here was built to last. As long as the earth gives it to you, it will take it away, either by death, rapture or even the process of change and growth will make some things unnecessary. This understanding helps me focus on what is really important, which is the right preparation for the coming of the Lord, which will be the crown of all my experiences on this side of eternity. How am I preparing? Am I in a hurry to 'make it' in life, not minding the process I take to get there? Am I willing to pay the price for impact that will last and also lead to eternity with God?
The verses above lay out a picture of the right preparation. The husbandman is one whose business is to cultivate the land. He envisions the large harvest that is coming, and then He prepares the land for the fulfilment of that vision. If the land is not ploughed and prepared for sowing, prayer alone will not lead to the right end. If good seed is not sown in the ground that has been ploughed and prepared, the early and latter rain will not do much good. Before the rains will come, there must be ready ground and ready seed as well as ready conditions that will make good use of the rains. God will definitely send the rain, because He is also a fruitful God. He will play His part in bringing me to the place where He has purposed and prepared and planted me for, but there is work that must be done to entrench and establish God's purpose. The husbandman can wait the right way when he has done the right things. In the same way, for all who wait for the coming of the Lord, there is a right way to wait. I give God my heart so it is under His control and influence. The Lord returns soon; how are you preparing? God's time of favour is here.
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