When Jesus asks a question, it’s not that he is longing to know the answer.  He has all the answers! Rather, his questioning is designed for us to go deeper… to think and to act according to how we answer that question.

There’s one particular question Jesus asks that got me thinking…

“…when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” – Luke 18:8

Interesting.  As usual, there is no answer.  I’m suspect to think that this is one of those questions meant to probe our hearts; a question to analyze our walk with Christ to see if we are, currently, being faithful.

A person might say, “I believe in Christ as my Lord and Savior so I am being faithful.” Yet faithfulness is more than simply believing:

“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?……faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that-and shudder.” – James 2:14,17-20

Did you feel that? James, like Jesus, hits it hard with his question!

How true this statement is! Of course demons believe that God exists – they are completely opposed to His reign! Yet belief, in of itself, does not demonstrate that a person follows Christ. Faithfulness is belief revealed through action. It is ‘proof’ that we love God. It is living by faith that demonstrates that you are faithful.

We see this in the modern-day context of our relationships. I can say to my wife, “I love you” every single day. Now, what would happen if I continued to say those words, but never showed that I loved her? I ceased showing affection towards her. I didn’t clean up around the house. I stopped paying the bills. I failed to listen to her, console her, or encourage her. It wouldn’t matter how many times I’d say, “I love you.” I can tell you right now she’d say, “You don’t love me!” And she’d have good reason to think so!

It makes sense in this context to quote the phrase, “Talk is cheap.” If I truly loved my wife, I’m going to demonstrate that love towards her. It doesn’t mean I have to be perfect, but there needs to be action involved. There has to be a sense of desire and motivation that reveals what I believe to be true.

It’s the same with God – if we truly love Him, our actions, attitudes, character, and hopefully – our lifestyle – reveal that we love Him. The true test of our faith is going to be through the demonstration of that faith… will Jesus see that we have been faithful to Him when He comes back?

The truth is, He IS coming back! We know that God is ‘not a man that He should lie’ (Numbers 23:19) and His word will come to pass (Hebrews 10:23). He’s even faithful to us, when we are unfaithful to Him! (2 Timothy 2:13). Therefore, if Jesus said He’s coming back, He is guaranteed to do so.

We don’t know when He’s coming. We don’t know who will be faithful to the end. But there is a call to persevere until that fateful Day; demonstrable evidence that we are His by fulfilling the works He has called us to do.

So will Jesus find faith on the earth when He comes back?

My ambition and hope is to eventually answer that question with a resounding, “Yes Lord, I have been faithful.”

For this week, reflect on the question Jesus asked, about faithfulness, with an honest evaluation of yourself in terms of action, i.e., faith that is ‘revealed.’ What is Jesus calling you to do? How can you be faithful with what you have been given? How can you move from ‘believing’ to ‘doing?’ Set aside all fear, doubt, regret, and do not attempt to justify yourself! There’s always something the Holy Spirit is prodding us to work on or walk in. Listen and act in that with what you hear. It’s never too late to start afresh and be who God has called you to be.

Have a blessed week!