Till We Are Home

C.S. Lewis wrote in The Weight of Glory:

“If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

You’ve likely heard this quote several times, and for good reason…it’s a good quote! Lewis’ image of this boy choosing something far lesser than the amazing greatness offered him hits us hard as we think of the sinful choices we make versus the glory God offers us. His point is that our desires for the things of this world should be forgotten, even killed to take up greater desires for the higher things of the Lord.

I think this can be true for our suffering as well. 

This morning, I read the following in James 5:7, “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord.” James is one of those books in the Bible that has sometimes frustrated me in the past. I love narrative, and I love when an argument can flow. James, to me, is more quippy – it’s wisdom literature, after all. There are a lot of good things in the book, but it can feel choppy. (I’m sure there may be a good cohesion in there…but this shortsighted brother hasn’t found it.)

Sometimes, when you hit a passage in James like verse 7 above, you have to keep trucking along to see where he’s going. Patience in waiting for the Lord is a good command, overall, but what’s he driving at?

He continues in the rest of verse 7 through the end of verse 8, “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. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”

Ok, now we see James is adding a bit more to his encouragement for patience. Be patient and wait for the coming of the Lord just like the farmer waits for his produce. Why? Similar to the farmer, we wait for a reward. We patiently wait for the Lord because in doing so we will receive the ripened fruit. If a farmer harvests his produce before its time, the fruit won’t be ready. You’ll get shriveled, gross, incomplete fruit.

So, be patient until the Lord comes. When He comes, that’s when the real fruit, the real treasure will come.

All that is good stuff. Yet, James isn’t done making his point. He could be, he’s got a good, general point for us all, but he’s wanting to say something further. Look at verses 10 and 11, “As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.” (Emphasis mine.)

Now we have the fuller picture of what James wanted to say with respect to waiting on the Lord. His audience, at least some in his audience, were suffering. They were enduring sorrow. James pastorally wants to encourage them, to help them see something bigger, to hold onto something greater. 

James wants them to see that the coming of the Lord, when Christ returns for His bride, is the ripened fruit of their reward that can bring them comfort…great comfort…true comfort. 

James does not say to hold on, you’ll get through this suffering. This, too, shall pass. It’ll get better. Time will heal all things. 

No, James points them to something greater. James wants them and us to understand that our true hope in the world is not in you getting over your sadness, the end of your current circumstances (or the reversal of them), or the resolution of suffering in this life – for it may not come! – but in Christ’s return for His people. 

So, he says, hold on! Be patient, steadfast…it’s a sure thing that Christ will return, and then…oh what a reward waits for you in Him when He comes! 

In The Silver Chair, another book by C.S. Lewis, we hear a similar encouragement from Prince Rilian, “’Courage friends,’ came Prince Rilian’s voice. ‘Whether we live or die Aslan will be our good lord.’” Brothers and sisters, as you experience sorrow and trials and grief in this world marked by suffering, may you take courage, too. Our God will be and is our good Lord no matter if we live, die, or suffer until we do. Look not to the mud pies of temporal relief but look instead with patience to something far greater. Be steadfast, immovable as you wait patiently for the ripened fruit, the holiday at the sea of your greatest comfort and treasure…

Till we are home…