The English Standard Version translates it...."I tell you....(this is Jesus speaking)....He will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he....find faith on earth?" (Luke 18:8)
This passage comes to our mind occasionally but infrequently today. We look at 'faith' as meaning....belief in Christ....but not necessarily....living in Christ....or....abiding in Christ. Interpreting it this way we can easily align ourselves with those in that verse who will have faith when the Son of Man comes....but that may not be the case....as Jesus may be warning us that even the church will not be trusting in Him....thus will He find faith....a living powerful faith....at all? We can actually see this in politics or the 'Christian nationalism' that we hear so much about. We....believe....as an assent to who Jesus Christ is....but we do not nearly trust in Him for what we believe that we really need in life.
Here is my reasoning for this. I find it ....and have so for nearly forty years now....difficult to generate a conversation on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ....and particularly his coming again in great power and glory....along with His mighty angels....and this even with believers after Lord's Day worship services! That is the sad fact. I can bring these things up and will get a due and appropriate response....that will be short-lived....and then the conversation will return to life in general. The glories of Christ do not possess our minds. I have witnessed forty years of Bible studies that may be full of 100% truth....but never....or seldom at best....once or twice a year at most....enter into any of the multitude of other truths warning us to separate ourselves and guard our own heart....make sure our salvation....and love our neighbor....'love'....being our concern for their eternal destiny....more than just being nice to them.
The gospel of the cross seems to be a shawl that we put on when in church. It gives us access to the Lord's Supper. it distinguishes us from the liberals who want abortion and same-sex marriage....but in no way describes us as....abiding in Christ. The world in this situation is our god. It might be the concept of 'liberty' that can possess us....or it might be our enjoyments.....particularly the quite literal worship of sport....or it might be our possessions.
I lived the absurd life of worshiping sport teams. I know its lure. I wasted my life up to the age of 32 years old on the holy trinity in Pittsburgh of baseball and football and hockey....and I see Christians everywhere today glued to TV screens....their hearts pounding in reverence for their team....where in no way would they ever take a tenth of the time to listen to glorious sermons from....men of the past or men today who preach like men of the past....that magnify our Lord and our Savior and our coming King! So truly....as God's Word asks of us....will Jesus find 'faith' on the earth....a living powerful faith....upon His return?
Addendum: I wanted to add this after seeing an article and doing a little research. The New York Jets fans may be the luckiest of all. The team signed a future Hall of Fame quarterback....for a lot of money by the way. This was going to be a big year for the fans....maybe the Super Bowl....but the famous quarterback only played a couple of minutes in the first game....and was done for the year. I looked at their record....four wins....and seven losses. If they were seven and four....and still had the famous quarterback...the city would be super-excited....and the fans living for the next game....configuring all the possibilities....making plans for the bigger games....devouring newspaper sports sections and ESPN NFL shows....but that is all gone....except for those who like to cry in their beer. Maybe....just maybe....and surely for a few fans at least....they may have time on their hands and find themselves confronted somehow by the gospel of Jesus Christ! I was in a hotel room Thursday night....and there was a Gideon Bible in the drawer. Maybe a crazy uncle will bring up the subject of their eternal salvation....and with no one around to impress....they might actually give it some serious thought. Who knows. Well God knows! Maybe it's you? Stranger things have happened....my salvation for one!
