October 16, 2022 Text: Luke 18:1-8
Dear Friends in Christ,
Phillips Brooks was an American clergyman of the Episcopal church who died in 1893. You know him as the man who wrote the words to “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” The story goes that at times he suffered moments of great frustration and irritability. One day, a friend saw him pacing the floor. He asked, “What’s the trouble, Dr. Brooks?” And Brooks replied, “The trouble is that I’m in a hurry, but God is not.”
Hit home for some of us? Remember this, (God says) “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” (Is. 55:8). There are many things that test our faith and the “things” have intensified. So the question is . . .
“WHEN JESUS COMES BACK WILL HE FIND FAITH ON EARTH?”
If God is real and full of love than why doesn’t He stop all the wars and hatred and molestations and shootings and starvation and…you name it. Have you ever slandered someone? Why didn’t God stop that? Have you ripped someone’s heart with your words? Why didn’t God stop that? Ever told a lie or used God’s name in vain or lusted or flirted with someone other than your spouse? Why didn’t God stop that? Ever wished someone were dead? Why didn’t God stop that? Ever got caught up the peripherals of church instead of focusing on whether God’s Word is being preached here? Why didn’t God stop that?
Here is a better question. Why doesn’t the human race stop doing all the terrible things they shouldn’t be doing but they do them anyway? Why do the atheists and cynics ask all the pathetic questions that make no sense?
Our text ends, “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” The implication is that there is something wrong with all of us. Something that drives us into all sorts of horrible thinking and verbalizing and deeds. Something…called sin. Why doesn’t man stop it?
You have heard the parable, so what does it all mean. First, the parable is not a comparison between the unjust judge and God. The parable is a contrast between the two. When the widow keeps persisting what is the motive of the judge? “Because the widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.” (v. 5). God is not an unrighteous judge. But even if an unrighteous man will give justice to the persistent, how much more will our righteous God do so?
God has a deep and abiding love for His people. It is expressed in these words of Jesus: “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep.” (Jn. 10:14-15). Time and again, the Gospel impresses upon us that Christ died for sinners.
Ok, I know what some of you are thinking. It is in the text, “Will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily.” (vs. 7-8a) How many of us are like Phillips Brooks? We are in a hurry for a resolution, but God doesn’t seem to be? “Why doesn’t God do…?” And you fill in the blanks.
When Jesus said these words in Luke 18, what was near? The most decisive act of God in vindicating His elect, namely the death and resurrection of Jesus. Why doesn’t God stop our bad acts? Because He can’t. We are men and women who have free will. But He will do something so we don’t carry around the guilty baggage. He sent his Son, our Lord, to be the atoning sacrifice for our bad choices. He forgives our slander, and bad words, and lust, and hatred and when we lose focus on the Gospel. He sees them all and He forgives them all. In our daily prayers, don’t many of us ask for that forgiveness? The need never goes away. The Good News is that God’s gift of salvation through Jesus never goes away. The last verse of our text says, “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” This is a rhetorical question, urging faithfulness. This is the key ingredient in our prayers – faithfulness.
Now let’s get to question: why doesn’t God act quicker? Scripture answers that. “The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Pet. 3:9) Are you and I thankful that the Lord did not return the day before we were brought to faith? Right? It might seem a crazy question since we were brought to faith, but think about it. Not wishing that any would perish.
Matthew tells us, “lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.” (Mt. 24:12) The admonition is clear, “the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (Mt. 24:13)
We as God’s people will not escape bearing the cross or suffering for Christ. The focal point is not this world. It is this, “your redemption is drawing near.” “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
God help us to answer in the affirmative. “Always pray and never lose heart.” The persistent widow is our example. God’s answer is our strength: “And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night?”
Amen.