Be Patient and Perfect
But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. – James 1:4.
Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and see the end intended by the Lord – that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. – James 5:7-11.
Jeff Adams has performed an amazing feat of endurance. If you are the average person, climbing even one hundred steps is more than you want to do. Adams who is a Canadian has climbed the 1,776 stairs in Toronto’s CN Tower. He is also a paralympian and climbed the stairs in a wheelchair. It took five hours but Jeff believes it was worth the effort as he was raising money for a program of the Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons. Jeff started this program when he was asked to leave a restaurant because they considered his wheelchair to be a fire hazard.Adams says, “It’s so outside the box and also something you never thought was possible in a wheelchair. We decided to respond to the negative situation in a positive way. The best part of living is standing up to a barrier.” It’s obvious that Jeff Adams has such amazing endurance because of his amazing attitude.
The reward of patience is maturity and strength. With the maturity and strength comes the ability to endure whatever barriers, hindrances, trials, and tribulations may confront us during our journey through the years on Planet Earth. The word “perfect” in James 1:4 means becoming strong, mature and having everything that we need to withstand the problems and challenges of life.
As we are living this life we must look beyond the problems and challenges to the coming of our Lord. We look beyond the present and see our goal, our reward. Jeff Adams could endure the five hours of grueling physical challenge because he had a goal and knew it was a worthy goal. We too have a goal to have our Lord say “Well done good and faithful servant (Matthew 25 – Parable of the Talents).” Our Master and Lord is coming for us, and we will see Him one great and glorious day face to face.
We who know the Lord as Savior have been given unmerited mercy. In 2Corinthians 4:1 the apostle Paul writes, “Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.” I believe Paul could see the adversities, the challenges of life much as Jeff Adams does. I think Paul could say, “The best part of living is standing up to a barrier.” Or, Paul might put it this way; “The best part of living is overcoming the challenges, hardships, adversities and all the rest through Christ Jesus and bringing glory to Him.” Paul did write in 2 Corinthians 4:16-17, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”
(The reward of patience is maturity and strength. Along with the maturity and strength comes the endurance to make it through the trials of life.)