There is a verse in James 5:12 that seems out of place. Let’s look at it: “But above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “yes” mean “yes,” and your “no” mean “no,” so that you won’t fall under judgment.”
The short of it, is that our words—especially as God’s people—ought to have the greatest of all gravity. We are to be a people of truth and integrity. Our pattern for life is that of our Lord, who was always full of grace and truth. Now that doesn’t mean we know everything, or have all the answers. But what we know truly…we should declare, and when we don’t know…we should be silent.
We live in a day when Christians aren’t afforded any more credibility than anyone else. It’s because we can be just as quick to speak, quick to anger, and dull to understand as the next guy. How can people trust what we have to say about eternal matters if we can’t be trusted to get temporal matters, right? The Little Boy who cried wolf wasn’t believed at the point he most needed because he’d forfeited his credibility. What a terrible thing for the Christian to forfeit his or her credibility. Before we speak, we need to remember that God judges every thought, every word, and every deed.
Now, there is a method to my message here. Whether you realize it or not, James 5 is about the end of the age and coming return of Jesus Christ. These are not the same thing. The “End of the Age” and “Day of Jesus” are distinctly different, but deeply connected events. When Jesus was on earth he made three startling prophesies about the future:
His first, and most immediate prophesy was about his own Life. He repeatedly warned his disciples that he would be arrested, beaten, taken to trial, sentenced to death by crucifixion, that he would die, be buried, but after three days rise from the grave. Jesus repeated this prophesy countless times and staked the entire credibility of his life and ministry on whether he would indeed be raised from the grave. The fact that Jesus rose from the grave is only reason we’re here.
But Jesus’ second and less immediate prophesy was about Jerusalem and the Temple. In Luke 21:5-7, Jesus is with his disciples in the Upper City. “Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God.” But then Jesus says, “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.” The disciples are incredulous! They ask, “when will this happen? What will be the sign that they are about to take place?”
In Luke’s account of this conversation, the disciples only ask him about the coming destruction of the Temple. And Jesus lists out all the various “signs of the times” we’re so acquainted with. False Christs. Wars, rumors of wars. Nations rising up against one another. Earthquakes, famines, fearful events, persecutions, hatred of the Christian. And then Jesus adds, Luke 21:20-24, “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that the desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country, not enter the city. For this is the time of the punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. How dreadful it will be… [verse 24] Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”
When James… who is in Jerusalem… in James 5:1 says, “Come now, you rich people, weep and wail over the miseries that are coming on you…” he isn’t just speaking idle words of warning. He’s thinking of Jesus’ warning, that the city of Jerusalem and the Temple were facing imminent judgement. No James didn’t know the exact hour. But he’s saying, “You Rich People… Your whole upper crust, arrogant way of life is coming to an end. Jesus wept over the judgement that awaits—and instead of repentance, you’re doubling down on all the things for which God is bringing this city under judgement. James 5:2-6, “2 Your wealth has rotted and your clothes are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have stored up treasure in the last days. 4 Look! The pay that you withheld from the workers who mowed your fields cries out, and the outcry of the harvesters has reached the ears of the Lord of Armies. 5 You have lived luxuriously on the earth and have indulged yourselves. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned, you have murdered the righteous, who does not resist you.”
In A.D. 70 the Roman army encircled Jerusalem, and laid siege to her walls. The Romans were so greedy for the wealth of the city. As the temple burned, its gold adornments melted into the cracks of the giant stones. To get to that gold, the Romans cast down every stone of the temple until nothing remained. There was terrible suffering in the city—weeping and gnashing—unspeakable cruelty and evil. So it’s not just “Hey church—your wealth is going to rot a whole in your pocket and soul.” It’s more like, “God’s fierce wrath is about to be unleased on this city and its sin, so why would you want to be complicit with that?” You are fattening yourself, indulging yourself, for slaughter. Your luxurious life is like a vapor that is about to be snuffed out in judgement. As the signs of the times began to take shape, the Christians remaining in Jerusalem fled for the mountains. And Gentiles still trample the temple mount to this day. But again, James is warning the rich, time is short to get on right side of history.
Now there was a third prophecy Jesus made—and it is the less immediate of the three though not any less imminent for us today. It’s the “End of the Age” and “Day of the Lord.” So in Luke’s gospel, after he predicts the Destruction of the Temple, it appears from Luke 21:25 that he begins talking about the End of the Age. He mentions how there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. The nations will be in even greater anguish. The seas will roll and toss about. People will faint as the heavenly bodies themselves are shaken… and then, Luke 21:27-28, “At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in the cloud with power and great glory! When these things begin to take place, stand up and life up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Think of this friends. What if you were a disciple of Jesus. Jesus predicts he would die, be buried, and after three days rise. Is that truth or fiction? Well three days after Jesus died, the Truth rose from the grave. And then think, if you were the church of Jesus post resurrection. Jesus predicts the destruction of Jerusalem, the end of the Temple, and the rise of the Gentiles. Is that truth of fiction? Well, some believed and were saved; and the rich didn’t believe and their “gold and silver consumed their flesh like fire.” Do you realize what is being said here? The Christian is to be the temple of God, adorned not with gold or silver but indwelt by the Spirit of God. The temple of Jerusalem though adorned with gold and silver was to be indwelt by the Spirit of God. But the riches of the Christian was corrupting their bodily temple, just as the riches of the Jew was corrupting the physical temple. And both temples were about to be consumed by fire in judgement.
After A.D. 70 two of Jesus’ three warnings were shown to be truth not fiction. Jesus own temple, his own body, was destroyed but resurrected. The Jew’s temple, their building in Jerusalem, was destroyed and still is not raised. But third, the End of the Age and Return of Christ awaits all who believe! Truth or Fiction? Do you believe Christ will come again? This third prediction is what consumes the Christian today…
James 5:7-11, 7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, be patient until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth and is patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9 Brothers and sisters, do not complain about one another, so that you will not be judged. Look, the judge stands at the door! 10 Brothers and sisters, take the prophets who spoke in the Lord’s name as an example of suffering and patience. 11 See, we count as blessed those who have endured. You have heard of Job’s endurance and have seen the outcome that the Lord brought about—the Lord is compassionate and merciful. 12 But above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “yes” mean “yes,” and your “no” mean “no,” so that you won’t fall under judgment.”
There were some things James said earlier that stuck me most profoundly. It’s James 1:21, “Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” When it comes of the predictions and warnings of Jesus in regard to the future, we’re not playing some game, crying wolf, seeing if we can get a reaction. No, there are true warnings, true predictions, true truth that if heeded, will save your soul. The Word both prepared and then saved the Christian in the Day of Roman Invasion… and the same word prepares and saves the Christian in the coming Day of Judgement.
James 1:22-24, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.” This is the greatest danger facing the Christian today. It’s we’ve been lulled into deception. We’ve become so accustomed to being bombarded by mistruths we may not have ability separate truth from fiction. Do we take Jesus at his word? Do we heed his warning? Or do we just talk away from the mirrror forgetting what God has showed us?
James 2:12-13, “Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgement.” The disciple of Jesus has only this life to speak and act as one accountable and one to be judged. How far do we kick that can down the road?
James 4:7-10, “7 Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be miserable and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you." James 4:12, “There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?”
James 4:13-17, "13 Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.' 14 Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be! For you are like a vapor that appears for a little while, then vanishes. 15 Instead, you should say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.' 16 But as it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 So it is sin to know the good and yet not do it."
James 5:7-8, “7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, be patient until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth and is patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near.”