A Nugget from New Life Network
(partially reprinted from Dr. Larry Ollison’s The Cutting Edge)
Scripture for the Day (August 11, 2015)
“when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8)
According to 1 Thessalonians 4:16, when Jesus returns to the earth the Christians will be caught up in the air to be with Him. From that point on, we who are Christians will be with Him forever. As Christians, we know this and we are anxiously expecting and looking for His return. But let me ask you something. When Jesus returns, what will He be looking for? What will He be expecting to find on the earth?
Jesus made an interesting statement in Luke that is often overlooked and untaught. In Luke 18:8 while speaking a parable, Jesus said, “when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” What will Jesus be looking for when He returns? He will be looking for faith! When Jesus returns, He will be coming for His Church. He will expect the Church to be spotless and without blemish. Jesus will not be returning for a puny, beat down Church but He will be looking for a Church that is victorious, powerful, and full of faith. For the Church to have faith when Jesus comes back, we must believe what God says and act on those beliefs. It will not do any good to believe God unless we put our beliefs into action. That is faith!
When we have faith, we can overcome the things of the world. Now don’t get me wrong. We won’t eliminate all our problems. Satan and his demonic forces will always be trying to destroy us, but we will be able to go through our trials without fear, knowing that God always does what He says.
Faith is a substance and a gift of God (Hebrews 11:1; Ephesians 2:8). We can accept it and develop it, or we can reject it. But remember this. When Jesus returns, and He will, He will be looking for it. Do you have it?
Now let me ask you something else. What makes faith so important that Jesus would look for it when He returns? Well, here’s the answer. God places a very high value on faith. You cannot get saved (Romans 10:8-9) or even please God without it (Hebrews 11:6). Several years ago, I gave an automobile to a young man who really needed the transportation. I told him that it was his. He didn’t owe me anything. All he had to do was come and get it. Every time I saw him, I reminded him that the car was his. It was paid for. He just needed to come and get it. However, he never showed up. Finally, after much urging without result, I disposed of the auto by other means.
When I asked the young man why he hadn’t picked up the car, he said it was because he didn’t really believe I had given it to him. Unfortunately that’s the way many people are with God. He has given them great and mighty gifts and they have not been accepted. Why? Probably for the same reason the young man didn’t get the car. They don’t really believe God has given these things to them. They have either been convinced by Satan that they don’t deserve them or convinced by religious doctrine that they don’t exist.
You know, it’s interesting to me that most people act like Jesus will be looking for something else when He returns. When He returns, He will not be looking for your church attendance records. He will not be looking for your offering report. It is good to tithe and attend church, but according to Jesus himself, He will be looking for one thing and that is faith. Remember what Jesus said, “when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?”
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (James 2:26)
