"When the Son of Man comes,
will He really find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:8
This verse along with the one preceding it in Luke 18:7-8 says,
"And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and
night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that
He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of
Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"
Our LORD is asking us a question about our faith in relation
to prayer and steadfastness in devotion to God. God is ready
and willing to respond to our prayers. Verse 8 tells us that
He will act speedily and then follows with a question; will
He find faith? We live in a world that is opposed to
righteousness (right standing with God). Everywhere we turn
we are being bombarded with seducing spirits who place
temptations in our path to appeal to our fleshly desires.
We are called to a life of holiness and devotion to God.
The world and its system are designed by the devil himself to
rob us of our faith and devotion to God. This is the very
scene that God observes daily in the life of a Christian,
who is carnal (dullness of spiritual perception). It has to
be frustrating (a disappointment) to our Heavenly Father to
see his Church in such a state.
It is clear to me that a life that is pleasing to God is a
life that is Spirit dominated. The LORD so desires for us
to get into a place of intimacy and delight of being in His
presence, that there is no room in one's heart for doubt and
unbelief. The LORD says when we have this type of pursuit of
Him that He will avenge His elect (v. 7).
Oh the love of God and His faithfulness in answering prayer.
All through the Bible we read of men and women (Elijah,
Hannah, Deborah, Daniel, & Paul) who were steadfast in
prayer. It is my belief God answers prayers, because of our
brokenness (humility) and condition of our hearts ("Who
may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy
place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart" Ps.24:3).
When we pray, we must allow the Spirit of God to reveal the
motives and intents of our hearts in accordance with His
Word ("For the word of God is living and powerful, and
sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the
division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow,
and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the
heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight,
but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to
whom we must give account." Heb 4:12-13).
We have to get our spiritual lives in such a place to where
we know what the will of God is, what is pleasing to Him,
and what to ask. Romans 12:2 says; "And do not be
conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing
of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and
acceptable and perfect will of God".
Do you think a life that is in pursuit of God and a Spiritual
tenacity of prayer to know Him and His very heart beat is
pleasing to Him? Read what Isaiah says; "Even them I
will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My
house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called
a house of prayer for all nations" (56:7). God
desires for us to come up to His Holy Mountain by prayer and
cast off restraints that hinder our access to Him because of
the cares of this world. When we are in God's presence, it
brings us much joy. When we pray in the Spirit, we will
ascend to heights that are unattainable by prayers of vain
repetitions. As a son and a daughter of God, we need to get
into a place of perpetual (unceasing) communion with God. So
when God looks at his Church, He will see us full of faith,
preaching the Word with signs following. This is the true
life of the believer according to Mark 16:20; "Then
the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord
worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that
accompanied it".
Rocky Fondren
