“When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8)
Jesus told a parable about a woman who was being harassed by an evil person. The woman sought justice from a judge. The judge wouldn’t help her for a while, but the woman kept knocking at his door and didn’t give up. After a while, because she kept bothering him, the judge helped her overcome her enemy.
Jesus told this parable to teach us to keep praying and not give up. The woman represents the church, and at the end of the age the enemies of the church will be very strong and threatening. Through prayer, God will act on behalf of his people and deliver them, even though it may take a while.
Then after telling this parable, Jesus asked, “When I come back will I find faith on the earth?”
Looking for The Faith
Jesus is looking not just for any faith, but for the faith. In Greek, there is a definite article before faith, which indicates that Jesus will be looking for the specific faith when he returns. This is the specific faith that was given through Christ and his apostles.
Jude told us “to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 3)
The original faith was delivered to God’s people through Christ and his apostles, once for all. We don’t need to add anything, and nothing should be taken away. Jude says we have to fight for this faith because it is under attack from Satan. There are many alternative faiths and false forms of Christianity, but we need the original version delivered through God in the first century. This is the version that Jesus will be looking for when he returns.
In other words, Jesus was asking something like this: “When I return, will I find original Christianity in the earth, or will I find counterfeits?”
When a group of people follows the original faith of Christianity, they please God, but Satan hates them. They will be persecuted and face trouble. They will need deliverance, which is why they cry out to God for help like the woman cried out to the judge. Will there be Christians at the end of the age who are willing to go through trouble for the sake of God and his kingdom? Will they be willing to follow the teachings of the New Testament even if it leads to intense persecution?
If we were to ask Jesus’ question today, and look around for the original version of Christianity anywhere on the earth now, we might have to admit we can’t find it very easily. Do we see many Christians following the New Testament principles completely? Do we see many churches obeying all the commands and instructions of the NT?
The original faith is not easy to find, hence Jesus’ question.
The Answer to Jesus’ Question
Jesus answered his own question in other parts of the gospels. In other places he makes it clear that when he comes back he will find the faith in the earth. He said two will be in the field – one will be taken (and destroyed), and the other will be left. Some virgins won’t have oil in their lamps, but some will. Not just the tares, but the wheat will also yield a harvest. All these are pictures of some who are faithful to God even when most people aren’t. And of course the bride of Christ will be prepared, and the wedding supper of the lamb will occur. This can only happen when people are fully conformed to the original faith of the New Testament.
If Jesus already knows that the answer to his question is YES, then why does he ask it? He asks because he’s trying to make us understand that it will only be a few who will be faithful to him at the end of the age, and even for them it won’t be easy. Jesus wants us to prepare to follow him even when it gets hard.
The remnant will need courage, bravery, and steadfastness. They will have to wait for God. They must not compromise, not let their love grow cold, nor be deceived. They must press onward, taking new spiritual ground for years if necessary. We can’t give up when things get hard, and we can’t lose heart when we see things take time.
In summary, from Jesus’ poignant question we learn the following important points:
- We need to understand the original faith and follow it. Jesus is not looking for any Christianity, but he’s looking for the real thing that is based on his word.
- There will only be a small group of people who are faithful to God at the end. We should not be dismayed nor discouraged by this fact.
- We need to pray with persistence, never giving up, especially as things get harder.
- We need to trust our vengeance to God, and let him deal with our enemies.
- We need patience, for things may take a long time.
At the end of the age the Lord will come through and deliver his people. He will answer their prayers, Babylon will fall, and the remnant will become the bride of Christ through whom God radiates out into the world, swamping it with his glory.
Let us endeavor to get there from here.
Lincoln House Churches 