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| Tackling Tough Issues |  | |
| | | One of the chief characteristics of God's people in the last days is that they are patient. | | by Richard W. O'Ffill | | Jesus told His disciples some of the things that would happen before His return. But in spite of the many warnings, He predicted that His coming would take them by surprise. "Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not" (Luke 12:40). His call is not just to get ready but also to be ready. Historically, this has proved difficult, because for many the nearness of the coming of Jesus is the reason for their preparation. When excitement about Jesus' soon return is generated and then nothing happens, the tendency is to get back to business as usual. Because the reality of Jesus' return won't meet the expectations of those who await Him, Scripture repeatedly admonishes the people of God to be patient (Romans 2:7; 2 Thessalonians 3:5; James 5:7, 8; Hebrews 10:36-39). The biblical call to patience doesn't fall on deaf ears. Scripture describes God's people in the last days as being patient as well as keeping the commandments of God and having the faith of Jesus (see Revelation 14:12). May we all be among them. Maranatha! | | |
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