“WHEN THE SON OF MAN COMES, WILL HE FIND FAITH ON THE EARTH?”

Jesus asked this question of His disciples just after he told them a parable in which He gave them instruction on how to pray. (Luke 18:7)

(I wrote another post on this passage of Scripture last year. To view that post click here.)

I do think the Lord will find faith on the earth when He returns, but I also think He is saying He won’t find much faith on the earth and here’s why…

In Matthew 24 we learn that prior to the Lord’s coming many are going to fall away from the faith (Mt. 24:10) during the period of great tribulation. (Mt. 24:21)

The reason I tie this falling away to the great tribulation is because of the word, “Therefore”, in verse 15. That word ties what is said previously to what is said after.

In my previous post I show that genuine saving faith, faith that is truly a work of God, is enduring faith. Enduring faith will not fail because of its Source and Sustainer. Those then that fall away during the great tribulation never were energized with God given faith. God completes every work in the heart that He begins. (Phil. 1:6)

In the parable of the soils Jesus says that the gospel that falls on rocky soil is one in whom the good news never takes firm root. It is at first received with joy but when affliction or persecution comes because of the word, this person, with no firm root, falls away. (Mt. 13:20,21) The church will manifest that it is full of hearts with rocky soil because when the great tribulation hits, many will fall away. I looked up the word “many” in my dictionary. Webster defines it as “more”, “most”, “numerous”. Also as “a large number.” I think it is safe to say “many” is probably over half. Wow…

Let’s say then that over half of those who claim to be Christ followers do fall away after Antichrist takes his seat in the temple and demands worship. These “tares” or “look-a-like” believers love their life more than the Lord. They never really truly loved the Lord or had genuine, saving, enduring faith. The true Christ followers on the other hand are being killed left and right. They did not love their life even when faced with death. When persecution comes because of the word, they hold fast to the word of their testimony. (Rev. 12:11)

Jesus said unless those days of great tribulation are cut short, no life would be saved, but for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short. (Mt. 24:22) The slaughter is going to be great. Where will most of the faithful be found when Christ returns? With the Lord!

Paul tells the Thessalonians that God will bring with Him at Christ’s coming those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. This would include those slain for the word of their testimony during the great tribulation. All the dead in Christ will return with Christ and be joined with those who are alive and remain! What a gathering this is going to be!

Yes, there will be faith on the earth when the Son of Man returns, but I think most of it He will bring with Him when He comes…

God energizes faith...

...man exercises faith.

We know that faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17) God begins the good work of conforming us to the image of His Son with an encounter with His word and He says He will perfect it until the day of Christ. (Philippians 1:6)

From Romans 8:30 we learn that in the plan and mind of God this good work, this conforming us to the image of His Son, is already accomplished. "And these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified."

Faith that is genuinely a work of God therefore is enduring faith and will not fail.

FAITH

So, I settled in with my NASB concordance this morning and looked up the word faith. There are at least six verses I believe that clearly indicate that faith originates from God, not us.

Here they are:

Hebrews 12:2 – “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith…”
2 Peter 1:1 – “…who have received a faith of the same kind as ours…”
Philippians 1:29 – “For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him…”
Acts 3:16 – “And the basis of faith in His name…and the faith which comes through Him…”
Ephesians 2:8 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves…”
Romans 12:3 – “…as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.”

It is God who energizes faith in the believer’s heart. What is our part in faith? That is one of my questions. Paul talks about the obedience of faith. (Romans 1:5) After God energizes faith into our hearts we are to choose to be obedient to our Lord. With the choice of obedience comes blessing, with the choice of disobedience we set ourselves up for our Heavenly Father's discipline. Jesus said that he who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. (John 3:36) Faith and obedience go hand in hand.

I've mentioned Pastor James MacDonald's definition of faith before.

Here it is again:

"Faith is believing the Word of God and acting on it, no matter how I feel, because God promises a good result."

Do you see the element of obedience in that definition? Faith is believing the Word of God, and then acting on it...

Did you know that Romans has the most references to the word faith? Over forty! Is it any wonder? This is the book in which Paul says the righteous man shall live by faith. (Romans 1:17) Once God energizes faith into our hearts, this is the sphere from which we are to operate. The writer of Hebrews says that faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Do we always exercise faith? The obvious answer is no. We have weak faith sometimes. Romans 4:20 says that Abraham grew strong in faith. Faith can be strengthened. Paul gave thanks for the Thessalonians because their faith was greatly enlarged. (2 Th. 1:3) Faith can grow. Faith takes root in the heart with the hearing of the Word (Romans 10:17) and then grows as we let the Word dwell in us…as we keep our eyes fixed on the Word, the Author and Perfecter of faith. We take in the Word - our view of God enlarges and our faith enlarges. How important it is to be in the Word!

I've just barely scratched the surface and this is a study that is inexhaustible, but that's where my thoughts have been as of late.

Have a great day pondering...

Ephesians 2:4-7

This is an incredible passage of scripture to me.

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."

I don't want to give you much commentary other than that this truly speaks of our amazing privilege of being placed in Christ by the mercy and grace of God. I then want to point you to what Paul says in Ephesians 4:1...

"Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called..."

He's done incredible things for you...live correspondingly to your high position...

With privilege comes responsibility...then blessing, after blessing, after blessing...and we will continue in that privilege and blessing of seeing His kindness towards us put on display throughout eternity.

God's grace and kindness should change how we live now...

Christ died not only to save us...

...He also died to own us, therefore we need to live in that ownership. God is the one Who judges. We are not to judge one another. We have freedom in Christ to make choices based on our convictions (that are not moral or sin issues)...BUT, be aware of the convictions of your brothers and sisters in Christ and who you are in their life. Don't be a stumbling block to them - choose love.

“I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS”

This post is written with my daughter Annie in mind…

A few posts back, in the thread of comments, Annie mentioned she liked it when I asked her questions which required mulling.

In Matthew 28:20 the Lord tells us that He will be with us always, even to the end of the age…when He returns and will receive us unto Himself.

Here’s a question for you Annie…

What are the ramifications of the Lord’s promise in Matthew 28:20, “…I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

My mind settles on three issues...these words address our comfort, our commitments, and our conduct.

Regarding our comfort, always is a 100% word…This is a promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us, no matter what trial we are going through. These are words we can draw upon for comfort and assurance during those difficult times. We learn in Mt. 24 that before He returns at the end of the age the times are going to get extremely difficult.

“I am with you always…”

Secondly, regarding our commitments, I’m going to narrow it down to two. The Lord calls His followers to serve in the Body and to bring the good news to the lost. His continual presence empowers us for both of those tasks and we can engage in those endeavors with great joy and diligence knowing He is always with us - providing the strength.

“I am with you always…”

Thirdly, regarding our conduct, the knowledge of the Lord’s continual presence should affect what we think, what we say, how we feel, where we go, and what we do…It should call us to holiness at all times.

“I am with you always…”

Once we belong to the Lord He is with us always…that is truly mind-blowing as well as empowering. It’s something in which I could lose my thoughts for hours…

Seeing Jesus Christ as our Greatest Treasure...

...demands that we worship Him and walk like Him.