A HAUNTING QUESTION

LUKE 18:8

“However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

(Luke 18:8b).

Jesus had told the parable of the persistent widow to encourage His disciples to persevere in their faith. It would be a while before His return, and He did not want His people to lose heart. Instead, they were to be consumed with a passionate pursuit for justice before His throne and to look for Him to return to settle all accounts justly.

Jesus then tacked on an unexpected question at the end. He asked His followers if, when He returns, He would be able to find anyone on the earth who has true faith in God. Imagine a question like that from the lips of Jesus. He is talking to His disciples, but is within earshot of the Pharisees. He asks, “When I come back, will I find a faithful generation that has persevered in prayer, or will I find another generation like these Pharisees, who are godless and whose faith has been negotiated until it has disappeared?”

This verse has always haunted me, and sometimes I have prayed, “Lord, if You return in my lifetime, I promise that You will find faith on this planet, because You will find it in me.” But we have to be careful about making glib statements like this because it is only by the grace of God that we can persevere in any kind of faithfulness.

Jesus hints that when He returns, it will not be to a generation marked by great faithfulness, but rather it will be a time when He has to search for real persevering faith. Many have noted that our day seems to be such a time. Accommodation to the world is all too common today.

This parable is relevant, not only to the final coming of Jesus, but also to His comings in history. Who can know when Christ will come? It may be tonight. And who can know when Christ will come to judge a given nation? If our land does not repent, surely her days are numbered. When He comes for you, what will He find?

CORAM DEO

Proverbs 25–27

2 Corinthians 6

WEEKEND

Proverbs 28–31

2 Corinthians 7–8

Make a comparison. Think about all the popular talk you hear about the Second Coming and compare it to Jesus’ tone in Luke 18. All too often, today’s talk about the Lord’s return is just a form of escapism. Do Jesus’ warnings impel you to escape or to get to work? Pray that when our Lord returns, He will count you among the faithful.

For further study: Ezekiel 22:23–31; tape #B57INT.74/75

WEEKEND