George Whitefield, a Puritan evangelist who open air preached to thousands in the mid 1700’s across the colonies of America, loved and repeated the phrase from Hebrews 10:37, “Yet in a little while He who is coming will come.” Why was this verse so important to Whitefield?  The verse before it (Heb. 10:36) states, “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.” The Christian life is a life of testing and faith. Whitefield was tested severely. Not only did he have terrible opposition from many who should have been his greatest supporters, as they were clergy, but also because he preached so powerfully he faced hecklers, threats, and dangers from objects being thrown at him. He also bore a significant physical ailment in the form of asthmatic breathing issues that would lead to exhaustion and fainting spells. In those days there were no amplification methods, and so he had to exercise his powerful voice to be heard. I read of one report where eighty thousand people gathered at one time to hear him. He would travel from place to place pushing himself through exhaustion doing his open-air preaching. He would be so physically spent someone would literally at times have to hold him up. He would often be bed-ridden, and he died after he had been preaching for hours at age 55 in a pastor’s home in Massachusetts. The same context of this phrase, “For yet in a little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay,” goes on to state, “And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in Him” (Heb. 10:38). It also emphasizes, “But My righteous one shall live by faith” (also Heb. 10:38).

George Whitefield is “exhibit A” of this Hebrews’ context. Consider how he lived this out. His life was one of urgency to do his utmost to help others to know Christ. He knew his time was short whether by the return of Christ or the limited extent of his own life. Also, consider that as he was so committed to do the Lord’s will in preaching to thousands, that even though his voice and ability were affected so severely he kept doing all he could. Some looked at him from the perspective of questioning God. How could God allow such a servant to be so affected in the areas most necessary? Whitefield never questioned this. He knew what he had to do, and did it with every ounce of his being. Whitefield was a man of constant prayer, regaining his strength against all odds, and continuing to spread the Gospel. Paul had a similar situation in dealing with his “thorn in the flesh” (2 Cor. 12). He prayed repeatedly and accepted God’s answer, “My grace is sufficient for you.” Paul’s attitude was one of submission, he stated, “Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10). Whitefield exemplified this same spiritual mind and attitude.

I know around me are dear ones facing great trials. Believe me, my heart is sensitive to this. A right perspective on such issues must always come as we saturate ourselves not in the world’s philosophy of living to have a good time, but that we are here to serve God. The focus of Whitefield is the focus of Scripture. “The, “Yet in a little while, He who is coming will come” is the right attitude for all who are trusting in Christ. This is a recognition that the time is short, and what truly matters is our relation to God and our service to Him by faith. We dare not give up or shrink back. What is left if we give up? Or what is there to shrink back to?

We know that for a certainty, what God says He will do, and when He says, “For yet in a little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay,” means there is no possibility of failure for what He has promised. The idea of delay means that He will not delay longer in coming than is necessary according to His perfect will. In that regard, we would not desire Him to come one minute before His purposes for us or for all humanity, and history are completed. So, the admonition here is to think God’s thoughts. Realize that whatever we face today or tomorrow will pass, but the promise of God for those who love Him will never pass. This passage tells us we have need of endurance. All of us do! But the endurance we need is not something to merely grit our teeth and grind out another day, but an endurance of joy in the Lord who will make all things right and new. And with this, just like our days of schooling had their place in our development, so God’s purposes for us each day are mapped out by Him for our good and they are necessary. Kowing that God will provide a glorious future, we can focus on the present with a sense of purpose and joy. Paul says, “Make the most of our time for the days are evil” (Eph. 5:16). So as God encourages us through the writing of Hebrews, we need endurance with a view of His coming. He also intends for us to be busy in serving Him now. Living for Christ is the most important and purposeful calling on earth, and we do this while we wait for the fulfillment of our redemption. We do this as those with saving faith! God is He who has put it all together and is working it out through our daily living. Praise be His holy name! Brethren, keep on keeping on and at the same time look up your redemption draws near.