Will Jesus Find Faith on the Earth?

This is a very good question?  Perhaps a question to ask personally would be, when Jesus comes will he find faith in me?  This is a very sobering thought.  The question is found in Luke 18:8.  This is in the midst of a parable given by Jesus regarding the persistence of prayer and God’s faithfulness in response to those prayers.  It reads as follows:  “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, there was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary, And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me, And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?  I tell you that he will avenge them speedily.  Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:1-8.  

Faith is described as the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen Hebrews 11:1.  The New American Standard Translation renders the passage as, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”  Faith does not relate to that which we see or have, rather it has to do with that which we cannot see and the things we anticipate having in view of God’s promises.  “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance,  obeyed, and he went out, not knowing whither he went.  By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with hi of the same promise; For he looked for a city which hath foundations whose builder and maker is God” Hebrews 11:8-10.  Abraham did not have it, he could not see it, but he did anticipate it and as a result he left his family, homeland and left Ur for the unseen land of promise.  Christians also, have been called out of this world Colossians 1:!3; to journey in this strange land 1 Peter 2:11 as we look for and anticipate that heavenly abode Philippians 3:13-14. 

The question to be contemplated is when the Lord comes for his people of faith, will I (apply your own name) be among them?  Without faith one cannot please God Hebrews 11:6.  Faith is not simply a mental assent, but something that is active.  This is the faith that avails in Christ Galatians 5:6.  It is a faith that “Works” by “love”.  Works is the action and love is the motivation, while faith is the foundation of all we do and look for.  James 2:14-26 discusses the faith that saves and establishes the fact that the faith that saves is the faith that is active otherwise it is a dead faith that produces obedience and we keep our attention on thing above 2 Corinthians 4:!8, Colossians 3:1-2.  

It takes this kind of faith to worship when a pandemic threatens us, or any threat comes upon us.  It takes this kind of faith to evangelize when dangers or fears want to hinder or threaten Acts 8:1-4.  It takes this kind of faith to get out of our comfort zone to do things for the Lord that otherwise we would not do.  Sometimes it takes this kind of faith to pray, as it did Daniel when told not to do so.  It takes this kind of faith to stand up for what you know is right rather than folding up when questioned or challenged.  It takes this kind of faith to face persecution and death with confidence as did Paul 2 Timothy 4:6-8.  

Let me ask one more time, When the Lord comes back, Will he find FAITH in US?  Or will he find us allowing every fear, threat, or hinderance interfere with our service, worship and faithfulness to him.  You answer, The Lord already knows!

Bill Cantrell