It has often been said that good things come to those who wait. That implies patience. There are things which don’t come instantaneously. I love bread, but it takes time for the dough to rise before being baked to be eaten. Besides patience, there is also preparation involved with an end in view. Also, crops do not provide food instantaneously. The ground must first be tilled, the seed planted, water provided, and then comes the waiting for the plants to mature and bear the good fruitfulness to be enjoyed. Again, there is patient anticipation of the good to come, but still preparation that has been involved. Therefore, we might say that great things don’t just come to those who wait, but to those who also prepare.
Prior to going to the cross, Jesus encouraged His disciples that He would go and prepare a place for them. (John 14:1-3) In light of this it has been said that Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people. Though our preparation does not merit what He went to prepare, our life being lived in preparation for it reveals our appreciation for the hope we have been provided and how our surrendered life to the Lord is preparing us to be fitted for an eternity with Him. We are to live in patient anticipation of our Lord’s return while living prepared — remaining watchful — for whenever it might come, since no one knows the day nor hour. (Matthew 24:36; 25:13) Our minds are to be prepared for action (1 Peter 1:13) — living for the purposes for which we were created (i.e. Ephesians 2:10) — as we fix our hope fully on Jesus.
James encouraged his readers who were going through severe trials. . .
“(7) Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. (8) You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” (James 5:7-8 ESV)
As far as the coming of the Lord, it is not a question of if, but when. Whether it occurs during our lifetime or not, may we live prepared for the whenever as we patiently anticipate the eternity He has prepared for us!
Have a great day LIVING PATIENTLY PREPARED!
Carl
