I’ve been pondering this statement in Scripture for a few days and thought I’d share some of my musings…
Luke 18:8b ESV Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
I think this is such a sad question considering the world we live in because I’m afraid I know what the answer would be were He to return today. Our entire walk with the Lord, in my opinion, boils down to one question….do we believe? The word believe in Scripture is in no way a shallow belief, but one of complete trust and total reliance on.
- Do we believe God is who He says He is?
- Do we believe that God CAN do what He says He CAN do?
- Do we believe that God WILL do what He says He WILL do?
- Do I believe I am who God says I am?
Designed by the 'Author and Finisher of your faith'!
Those questions are partially adapted from Beth Moore’s ‘Believing God’ Bible study that I did back in 2004….a study that really changed my life and walk with the Lord.
Although I have always had a strong faith since I was saved (at age 24), Beth’s study changed me as I made a conscious decision to ‘believe God’ and to trust Him…even when I didn’t understand my circumstances…or circumstances in the lives of others. I have never once regretted this decision.
I really do believe He can and will do what He says but I feel most of the time I’m in the minority. I tell myself the Scripture promises there is a remnant of true ‘believers’ out there, but personally, I only know a few. It seems most are satisfied with being ‘a nominal Christian’ as opposed to ‘a wholehearted, sold out lover of Jesus’. My heart is simply to see believers who love Jesus with their whole hearts and who want to serve Him above all else. And my heart grieves for those who look for reasons to ‘go their own way’ and say it’s because of their ‘freedom’. I absolutely believe we are free because of Jesus and I thank Him daily for this; but at the same time, why are we all not burning to live a holy life….simply because we love Him? He loves us so much more than we can even begin to comprehend and I picture Him at times weeping over America much like He did over Jerusalem. After all, were we not a nation ‘founded on God’?
I see even those who were once so ‘on fire for God’ now barely holding their heads up and drowning in doubt and unbelief. Why is this? Francis Frangipane says that “unbelief is perhaps the most widespread sin tolerated by Christians today.”
Yes I know, ‘satan walks around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour’ but for believers, is he not a defeated foe?
Colossians 2:15 (NIV84) And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
I personally think the problem is two-fold: First, we just don’t really believe He is a defeated foe! (remember…complete trust and total reliance on) We often choose to ‘believe’ satan’s lies over God’s truth. Remember satan is excellent at deception and at times, he can convince us he’s not defeated….but again, do we believe him, or Jesus who has disarmed the ‘powers and authorities’ and ‘made a public spectacle of them’ and has ‘triumphed over them’?!!
The other part of the problem is the ground in our lives WE GIVE to satan through our disobedience – particularly and especially pride and unforgiveness. Again, if we believe God, there is no place for either in the life of a believer. And the best part…..God gives us the strength to walk in humility and forgiveness if we will only allow Him!
Do I ask these questions because I think I’m perfect? No! But I have given Him permission to ‘conform me to the image of Jesus’ because my heart loves Him so. Is this the way you feel? If not, why not?
My faith in Him led me to quit my job to spend more time with Him (with no savings and nothing in reserve but only a sure faith that He was leading me). He promised me when I stepped up to ‘cross the Jordan’ that He would provide. {I need to add here that it took me 5 years of ‘making sure’ He was leading before I actually took this step!} And what did He do, but let me keep my job, working from home in another state, on a reduced schedule that meets my need (and His!) for more time with Him, and also ‘gives me this day my daily bread’.
I’m not trying to ‘toot my own horn’ here, but I am saying He honors our faith because I want to encourage you in your faith.
Again I share one of my favorite verses:
Jeremiah 32:27 (NIV84) “I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?
Do you believe that?
When He comes, will He find faith in you?
