The Beginning is Near

"You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand." -James 5:8

The life of the Christian is one of anticipation and really one of urgency. The time is short — even if it takes a life of eighty years. Jesus has promised to return, and we wait for him, for the completion of his rule and reign, for the end of sin and the corruption of the fall.

Here James is reminding us of the nearness, not of the end, but the grand beginning of eternity with Christ. In that nearness, we are patient, trusting his promise, and we are engaged in establishing our hearts, firmly planting the Gospel into our lives, that we might stand like a cedar of Lebanon (Psalm 92:12).

Today, be reminded of the nearness of Christ. Not only by the Spirit, indwelling you right now, but his nearness in coming to remake and restore earth, to make it our real home. It can seem so far off, especially when we mark James' words on a calendar and notice they appeared two thousand years ago. But Jesus' approach is still upon us, and we live knowing it, expectant.

Today, establish your heart. Surrender yourself to the goodness and grace of Christ. You are his. Rest in that. Rejoice in that. And live like you know it.

The Faithful and Those in Christ

"And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect." -Hebrews 11:39–40

There have been so many great faithful heroes in Scripture. The heroes are the ones who live leaning into God's promise and care for them. In Hebrews, we call the description of some of them the Hall of Faith. But God's goal is not for us to merely be in their ranks; it is for us to have something better.

In Christ, we have the better something; we have his faithfulness as our own because by Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, we have received the promise. We are no longer judged on our ability to keep up or even have our deficits covered by the Savior. He does it all. We bring nothing to the table, and his perfection redeems us and gives us new purpose and power to live it.

Today, you can live like you are trying to earn a place in the Hall of Faith, or you can live knowing you already have a place given to you by Jesus. The good and better way is the Jesus way. Rejoice, for his faithfulness has made you faithful.