“…when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”
Luke 18:8
To pray is to have faith. Though it be little it is still faith. There will come a time where despair will overtake, doubt will cripple, and only a few will be found praying. When we draw near to God we do so believing that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6); anything less is not faith. The question is, why do we delay in prayer? What part of our life has been given over in unbelief? Where have we grown cold where the warmth of faith was once felt? What have we stopped believing God for as the Church? As an individual?
Ask yourself today: Where have I stopped believing God?
Since being reminded of this scripture, Christ’s question plays repeatedly in my mind…”will He find faith on the earth?” In the last days the love of many will grow cold (Matthew 24:12) and trust in God’s power will be scarce. The question is, will we be the few trusting?
It does not take long to realize in our lives as saints that God’s people are a waiting people. We are often tempted to feel forgotten and overlooked.
It is important to take heart and remember that God might delay but He does not stand still. His people are often commanded to stillness as His hand is still working, still moving mightily. Often, as we find ourselves out of control and waiting, our posture is one of hopelessness. Yet, we can wait with hearts devoted in faith!
“God’s delays are not the delays of inactivity but of preparation.“
Warren Wiersbe
God is always preparing us. Always working His eternal purposes in each of His children’s lives for His glory. The prayers of the righteous should never be empty of cries, never ceasing but always calling upon God’s promises. When we stop praying, it is then we stop believing. Oh, that Christ would look down now and find hearts full of great faith and postures following suit! Will He find faith here on earth? Our persistence will not fail. Let our petitions before God be so fierce that were they to be directed toward anyone else they would feel us to be a pest. God wants us to pray like this.
J.C. Ryle says it well:
“Faith is to the soul what life is to the body. Prayer is to faith what breath is to life. How a man can live and not breathe is past my comprehension, and how a man can believe and not pray is past my comprehension too.”
So Christian, remember the sobering question of Jesus today as you stand before your foe, your greatest mountain. God’s will is always that you pray. Be persistent. Remain dependent. That God may search and find women believing in Him enough to keep praying. He hears us and loves us; let not our hope in Him be found small today.