The Overlooked Question Of Jesus

" Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8, NASB).

This question should be a clear signal for anyone with "eyes to see" that any idea of some last minute "national revival", which many well-meaning brethren would like to have us believe, is not a likely scenario for our country. We see the rapid deterioration of all that is noble and sacred both here in America and the world. Our Lord warned us that the Last Days would be nothing but a display of rank deterioration, and the "church" would be enveloped in it as well (2 Timothy 4:1-5). Jesus's question is a reference to what is apparent to His remnant but also a question concerning the issue of faith and how God defines it. How does faith in Him even comes into being in our lives? Where do we start? Well, let's take a moment to stop and think about something that far too many people would rather avoid, deny, or ponder, but Jesus Himself pointed out. We can have everything that the world says will give us happiness and satisfaction. We can be surrounded by "good thoughts", "self-esteem", and a host of mantras by contemporary gurus and other so-called guides in life, but none of it gets us any closer to peace of mind and soul (Matthew 16:26; Mark 8:36).

Our nature, no matter how we want to deny it, is of any good when it comes to making ourselves "right with God" in our own power. Scripture makes this abundantly clear (Isaiah 53:6, 64:6; Romans 3:23). That's a fact and you know it, like it or not. Scripture points this out as a sign of God's concern for you and the offer of salvation He freely gives to anyone who calls upon Him (Isaiah 55:6; Matthew 11:28-30; John 10:28-30; Romans 10:9-10; Revelation 22:17). To reject, avoid, or ridicule the offer of salvation He graciously provides is nothing less than spitting in His Holy presence and arrogantly telling Him that what He has done on our behalf is not needed nor necessary for consideration, and is of no value to you. This is the ultimate case of insanity leading to the final horrendous destiny of anyone who turns away from His love, mercy, and forgiveness (Ezekiel 18:23, 32; Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:11-15).

Another reason Jesus questioned the lack of faith on the earth is that the preaching of redemption through the cross has been minimized, downplayed, ignored, or denied altogether by the apostate church that has taken up the causes and trends of the world, pathetically chasing the winds of popularity to look relevant and appeasing to people and groups who want the church to accept them without letting the power of Jesus Christ transform them from captives of sin into citizens of the kingdom of heaven. The harsh brutality and horror of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ provides the only means by which our sins are forgiven. The cross reconciles the holiness of God with fallen humanity.

From the foundation of time, the Lord Jesus Christ was the Chosen vessel Who would pay our sin debt and its penalty. As God incarnate, who is sinless, perfect, and filled with the Holy Spirit, He was the final sacrifice for sin, an act that was never to be repeated (Hebrews 7:25). He paid our debt because we could not (John 19:30, 20:30-31; 1 Timothy 1:12-17). As John Newton, the former slave trader turned minister who wrote the immortal hymn, "Amazing Grace" said, "I am a great sinner, but Christ is a Great Savior." Where does faith in God first find us? First, it is the Lord who finds us. He is the Good Shepherd who looks high and low for every lost lamb not in the fold (Luke 15:1-7). He finds us battered and bruised, scared, hungry, and cold. He finds us when we are ashamed of our sins and don't want Him to look for us at all. Yet He does and does do willingly. When He finds us, there is rejoicing in heaven and we are His from that time on, never to be forsaken or to fend for ourselves ever again (Hebrews13:5). The way Jesus finds faith on the earth is by placing our faith in Him (Romans 10:9-10). Someone needed to read this message today. Whoever you are, heed the word of the Lord and come to Him as a child in faith and trust. He loves you. What more needs to be said?

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