A question every generation of Christians has asked is: Are we living in the last days?
The phrase “last days” is used five different times in the New Testament—once each in Acts, 2 Timothy, James, 2 Peter, and Hebrews. And the author of Hebrews wrote: “God…has in these last days spoken to us by His Son” (Hebrews 1:1-2). So, according to the Word, we’re there—we’re in the last days now.
So how do we live victoriously in the last days? James said we should be strong. “Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand” (James 5:8). Strengthen your heart and cultivate a resolute courage— a determination to stay the course, no matter how severe the trial. The root word means to prop up or to cause to stand. James was writing to an audience who felt like they were about to collapse from the persecution upon them.
“Establish your hearts” is written in the imperative form. He was giving them a command, basically saying it was their responsibility to prop up their hearts.
Now, we might say something like, “May God strengthen your heart,” because we rightly recognize He is the source of all strength. Or we might say, “May your Christian brothers and sisters strengthen your heart.” Because they do. But James said, “Strengthen yourself.”
Spiritual strength is both a divine provision and a human responsibility. God provides the strength. But it’s our responsibility.
The Bible knows nothing of the passive spirituality that says, “Let go and let God.” The Bible doesn’t say that. And the Bible doesn’t say, “Lounge in the Spirit.” It says, “Walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16). Spiritual growth—spiritual maturity—is not accidental. It’s always intentional.
To put it another way, God operates, but there must be human cooperation with the divine operation.
In Philippians 2, Paul says, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (v. 12). What does that mean? Keep reading: “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (v. 13). He’s providing everything you need to cooperate with His will and His purpose.
Sometimes, you need to counsel yourself, talk to yourself, strengthen yourself. Because all the voices you hear that are not telling you the truth must be countered with God’s truth. And that’s what James meant when he said, establish, prop up, strengthen yourself.
After I had back surgery several years ago, the doctor said, “Walk at least one mile a day, if not two, do stretches and exercises, and go to physical therapy.” He did the operation, but his operation required my cooperation.
That is the idea here. Be strong—that is, strengthen yourself. Prop up your hearts.
Whatever struggles you are going through, they are only temporary. They’re going to end when Jesus returns. Even though we don’t know exactly when, we know He will come back.
And as the world becomes more palpably evil, as the election cycles make us more divided than ever, as the gap between the promise to return and the actual return grows in length, we need to be more ready, more patient, and stronger.
Establish your heart as you continue to walk with Him in these last days.
