In this sermon, Basilia Schlenk discusses the promise of God's presence and deliverance in times of distress and darkness. She refers to James 5:7, where the apostle encourages patience until the coming of the Lord. Schlenk emphasizes that God always has an exit prepared for every need, and it is up to us to believe in His love and patiently endure. She also highlights the importance of not grumbling against one another, as it hinders our relationship with Jesus. The sermon concludes with the reminder that Jesus will return triumphantly, bringing light and joy to those who eagerly await Him.

God lives and works today. That means that the distress and darkness in our lives and the world today need not remain there. What a joyful message. God has prepared a way out. Today's meditation by Basilia Schlink will tell about the great and exciting promise this truth holds for each of our lives. In James 5, verse 7, the Apostle warns his congregation, Be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. James was addressing these words to people who were faced by many threats and much persecution. Their lives were greatly endangered. And yet, in this verse, God's infinite love is shining out. With Him, the darkness in and around us is never a blind alley. God always has an exit prepared, and a truly appropriate one for every need. If our problem is small, then there is also only a small way out. But if the distress is great, as it was with Job, for example, who had to go through infinite suffering, then the exit, the end which God has prepared, will be infinitely wonderful and triumphant. This promise is especially true in respect to the last great time of trouble which we are now entering. The darkness will oppress us more and more as we become increasingly surrounded by violence and murder, pollution and the horror of sin. But God has prepared a triumphant exit with the return of Jesus Christ. In the same measure that the earth is dark before His coming, so brightly will Jesus then appear that the whole world will be brightened by His glory. And the people who come out of horror and night will be as if intoxicated, giddy with joy and exultation. They'll never be able to take their eyes off Jesus' face, which radiates with such infinite love. For us, this means we have to make a decision. Whoever eagerly awaits the Lord's return is prepared to endure and patiently bear what is difficult for him at the moment. He commits himself willingly to his difficulties because he knows these difficulties are not the end of the story. No, Jesus is coming again. The Apostle James, however, also mentions another condition besides being patient. In chapter 5, verse 9, he tells us, Do not grumble against one another. Here he's referring to people who are annoyed or angry. They let everything become too much for them and, in fact, no longer want to carry on. In this state, Jesus won't be able to come to us as the bridegroom of our souls. Rather, we will have to face Him as our judge. The decision rests in our hands. God is merciful and only love. If we believe this and carry this loving picture of Him in our hearts, and if we patiently endure, waiting for His love to reveal itself in the darkest hour, then we will experience it. We will see Jesus come again in glory and we'll be united with Him in love. The wedding day draws near. Then all the world will stand in awe when Christ appears. And all the heaven will be a star. The wedding day is near. You have been listening to a program written by Basilia Schlenk of the Little Land of Canaan. To learn more about how God lives and works today, visit us at our website, www.canaan.org. That's K-A-N-A-A-N dot org. If you contact us, we would be happy to send you a free inspirational booklet. If you do not have access to the web, please contact this radio station for our postal address. God bless you.