I have recently been spending some time focusing again on the passages in the gospel in which Jesus speaks on prayer. I have been blessed, as always, when reading these. Jesus taught that we can pray confidently, and we should pray repeatedly. He taught that we can speak with God as we do a loving father. We can ask God to forgive us and He will. On and on the teachings go about the wonderful blessing we have in prayer. I am always challenged, because I never think I am sufficiently valuing prayer.
I recently read these words at the conclusion of Luke 18:1-9, “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth.” I went over and over and over these haunting words. I am not sure that Jesus was issuing a warning as much as he was wondering to himself, “will I find faith on earth?”
Jesus had just taught a piercing parable about a woman asking for justice from an unjust judge. She kept asking until he realized she was going to keep on until he was worn down. Then Jesus said there is a lesson we need to learn about God in the parable. God will not ignore his people. God will give justice to his people. God will give justice speedily to his people.
In spite of those incredible promises, Jesus wonders to himself, “when I return, will I find faith on earth?” In our instant gratification society, I do wonder. . .when Jesus returns will he find his church faithful, or will he find us complaining about what God has not done and how slow God was when he did provide? Jesus was not talking about the unbelieving world; he was speaking about those of us who know the promises. You think about that!
