Luke 18:1-8 – “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man.  3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’  4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man,  5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.'”

 6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said.  7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?  8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” NKJV

I am a firm believer that we should not take isolated passages without considering the context and use them as a proof-text to validate your belief or argument.  In “studying ourselves to be approved” we should always be seekers of truth, God’s truth.  Too often the Bible is used to validate what we want to believe or what we have been taught to believe rather than finding the truth and adapting our lives to that truth.  The question of Jesus in this parable has troubled me for a long time, and in some ways, still does.  “…nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

If I allow this Scripture to become an isolated statement or question with no regard for the context and that which He had just spoken, I could conclude that He is talking about His return and that many would have drifted away from Him and are no longer followers of the faith.  But, I must ask, is that all He is saying?  Consider the situation He has presented.  It is a judge who did not fear God who heard the case of a widow.  Her persistence and presentation of her cause troubled him and because he didn’t want to have this issue become a persistent problem he ruled in her favor.  Jesus then informed those listening that God would avenge his children who continually intercede before His throne.  Then He gives this perplexing question of verse 8.

Clarke’s commentary suggests that this is not speaking of saving faith but fidelity, suggesting that it is referring to people doing right and maintaining right relationships.  The idea is that of the parable of the talents and the master returning requiring each of the servants to give an account.  This thought suggests that when Jesus returns He will not find a church that is putting its trust in Him but one that is compromised relying on the world system and following the world’s philosophy and manner of interpersonal relationships and business relationships.  He will find the world lacking fidelity, thus the answer to His question.  It is a sad reality that some if not many in today’s Christian world are more concerned about making sure they do not lose what they have on this earth rather than “seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.”

The first words of this passage grip my heart when I read it, “…men ought always to pray and not lose heart…”  Then he presented the parable of the judge and widow.  That suggests, to me, that He is focusing on the End Times and the Difficulty of the Age and how people will deal with people where authorities will be uncaring and unfeeling, not fearing God but doing the expedient rather than just what is right.  A clear focus is on the problems His followers will face and thus the need to be in continual prayer, holding confidence that God will never forget us.  It is an encouragement to not just do right but be right in our lives and relationships.  Thus, at least one question would be, “When the Son of Man comes will He find us faithfully executing His purpose, maintaining our integrity, and doing and being right?”  Will He find that on earth when He comes?  The answer is yes and no.  It is my plea and prayer that we are in the YES and make our journey through this life with the understanding that we are just passing through and this world is not our final home.

God bless you as you enjoy this wonderful day in Jesus!