Christian Living

Steady Forward in Faith

by Thomas Kirkpatrick
11/05/21
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“I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 8:8)

Many say this verse is for post-tribulation time, and I believe that is true. As we look at the verse in its context, we will see it’s for tribulation and suitable for any time since the founding of the Lord’s Church. I’m a pre-tribulation believer that the Church will be called out before the tribulation. If I am wrong, this word will be especially needed for us here when the tribulation comes. If right, then it will be suitable for those left behind, as all who profess to be followers of Jesus are not faithful believers. If that is the case, I share the advice of my father. It is time to stop playing Christian and start being praying Christians of faith.

This verse came at the end of a parable on prayer at the beginning of Luke chapter 18, verses 1-8. A widow had a legal matter and went before an unrighteous judge to find a solution. The judge would listen but would not make a judgment. Each day she came before the judge to plead her case, and each time the judge would not resolve the issue. The widow was persistent and continued to go before the judge until he became weary and judged in her favor.

The parable's point is that we are to be persistent in our prayer life in our request made to the Lord. Merely put are persistence shows that we need what we petition for. Our petition is a deep desire of the heart, and our intentions are to be used for His glory. It is not that God wants His people to beg but to want it enough to keep asking. In this world, we are asking people, as we all have needs and wants. When we receive their value is lost at our departure. In the spiritual realm, what we need must truly be desired, as their value is eternal. Perhaps it is God’s way of making sure our needs are truly wanted. God is faithful and will answer, not in our time but in His perfect eternal time.

The times we are in are confusing, as all times have been. But I don’t live in those past times as this is now and where we are. Each season of time creates opportunities, challenges, and trials. Opportunities are what we make of them, challenges are for our growth in management, and trials are defeating to some and a test of faith for others. The Christian lives by faith, not in the things seen but in the hope we have through faith in the unseen wonders of an Almighty God. What is puzzling is the lack of understanding I have for people of different beliefs, if they have any true beliefs. I have no problem with people of different views than my own, and I co-exist without their influence on my mind. It is not my mind cannot be changed; they cannot provide a belief system outside of the Word of God, which is the absolute truth.

I live my life by faith in my belief that God’s Word is truth and anything other is His truth twisted. I have observed that people become very faithful in times of unbearable trials. The best example of my life is 911. The houses of faith became packed during that time, and many a dusty bible was brushed clean and read. As the crises passed, so did their renewed faith. That activity has been going on from the beginning. When humanity is overwhelmed, they seek God.

The growth further tests faith in the Lord God Almighty in knowledge and technology. Today past unsolved challenges and trials have more solutions than we previously have had. Overall, the world's wealth has increased with various social systems, which has eased poverty in more places. With the massive explosion of knowledge we have a more exceptional ability to find solutions to the problems we face as a society. There is still confusion of stewardship and a lack of understanding between people of different beliefs with all these increased resources. For the people of faith in the spiritual world are soon to come to the Kingdom of God, there is a test of faith to live in this darkened world. I understand the reason but cannot fully comprehend the people I share the world with.

Despite what I see and hear, I am not afraid of my confusion by the depravity of humanity’s sinful nature. My solution is steady forward in faith to the conclusion of God living through me. It is not what I can do for the Lord today, but what can the Lord do through me today. Serving the Lord is not so much a slave to his master but a partnership of God’s direction of my paths. God is not my co-pilot. He is the vessel commander and sets the course of travel. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

I was listening to the leader of CHAZ in Seattle as she was protesting against the corrupt system of the United States. Two points she made stuck out in my mind. The nation has to be burnt to the ground to rebuild a race-less society. Only black lives matter because the whites had slaves over a hundred and fifty years ago, and they need to pay for that. It sounded pretty racist to me and defeated her race-less society. I am confused, but I understand it because Jesus told us it would happen in the last days. “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.” (Matthew 24:12)

I always have, until now, believed that people justify their words and actions before they speak or act. That doesn’t make it right or wrong, but it does give an avenue for understanding. How can she or people like her or people involved with hatred like hers justify their actions? They have become so far from the absolute truth and twisted what little truth; they are aware that there is no way a reasonable person can agree. Then I am wrong as the government is pandering to them. How can that be? Is the world’s foolishness drifted so far that it is insanity? No, as the Word of God tells us, this must happen before the Lord comes to judge humanity and the world.  The people who have rejected the truth have no idea what is right and wrong. “For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.” (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12)

The answer for a Christian is always prayer. Prayer is a two-way conversation with God. Reading the Bible is a way of hearing God’s Word, and the scriptures are God’s prayer to His people. Hearing the Words of Jesus, God’s Word, is a way to develop and increase your faith. “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) Faith is the act of trust that God’s Word is true, and therefore we speak and act in His truth. Even as we cannot see the result of His truth looking forward, we believe it is as we act on it in faith. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

As we go through these trying times, we are not alone, He is with us, and His like-minded believers are also. The key is that we are to pray continuously about our needs and the needs of others. Just as the point of the parable taught us that we pray in supplication. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6). God is our Heavenly Father, and every good and perfect gift comes by Him through His mercy, grace, and loving-kindness towards us. “Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?” (Luke 18:7) Even to those who oppress us, we pray for them that they too may see the light. “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44)

Will Jesus find faith when He returns? Is he finding faith in us today? His grace saves us through faith in His Son Jesus, who made it a reality by His sacrifice on the cross. Believing is necessary, and faith proves our belief in God’s Word, Jesus. Jesus is the only way to the Father (John 14:6), and faith is the only way to Jesus. Without faith in His Son, God cannot be pleased. “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

In hard times people return to God, which may be why God allows hard times to come to draw people back to Him. When the hard time passes, I cannot see how people think they no longer need God. I cannot understand how quickly they forget His counsel and how fast they discard faith. True relationships do not have an on-off switch, and relationships should always be on. Christians must be steadfast in their faith. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)

God will never forsake you. Even when we were dead in our sins, God did not forsake us. To turn away from God is to shout out everything that has eternal value beyond this world. We came into this world naked, and the only thing that will leave this world with us is our relationship with Jesus, our Savior. Don’t throw away the then by being distracted by the now. “Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay. But My righteous one shall live by faith; And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.” (Hebrews 10:35-39)

Thomas Kirkpatrick

First Baptist Church of Durant, June 18, 2020