0862. Waiting with Patience

Waiting with Patience

"But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it" (Rom_8:25).

Patience has a very close connection with the coming of the Lord. The second coming brings the blessed hope of the Church, and those of us who love Him are patiently waiting for the day of His appearing.

In James we are urged to be patient and to establish our hearts, for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Hebrews puts it this way: "Yet a little while and He that cometh will come and will not tarry." When Christ told His disciples "In the world ye shall have tribulation," He also told them that He would come again and that their sorrows would be turned to joy. Is it not true that "weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning"?

"Impatient heart, be still.

What though He tarry long;

What though the triumph song,

Is long delayed?

You have His promise sure

And it is all secure.

Impatient heart, be still."

Oftentimes, as we see the apostasy spreading itself abroad in the land; oftentimes, as we hear of wars and rumors of wars; oftentimes, as we behold famine and pestilence sweeping the thousands into eternity, we are led to cry: "Watchman, what of the night?" But the watchman replies: "The night cometh, but also the morning." Therefore, we need not despair.

There are those who call the premillennialists pessimists, but they are pessimists only as to the next few years. The believer in the prophetic Scriptures is not blinded to the fact that evil men and seducers will wax worse and worse, that iniquity will abound; but the believer in prophecy does not dwell upon these days of darkness. He sees in the coming of the Lord the "Bright and Morning Star," to the Church; and the "Sun of Righteousness rising with healing in His wings" to Israel.

The believer in prophecy is waiting with patience. Daniel went into the lions' den, but that den was only the pathway to a wider sweep of power in the kingdom of Darius. David was hid in the cave of Adullam, but that cave was only the stepping stone to the throne of Israel.

We now, therefore, have sorrow; but we will rejoice. We have suffered with Him; with Him we shall reign. With this in view, "we reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us." Therefore, we wait with patience for the blessed day of His appearing.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR