Has anyone else noticed lately how many believers seem like they are beginning to lose faith and hope in everything from personal struggles to the conditions of the nation, the world, and the church? Just the other day I was in a conversation with someone and they were sharing with me that, on a Christian radio broadcast, callers were calling in and expressing how they were beginning to lose hope in America turning things around and seeing a coming awakening. When we had this conversation I immediately thought of a passage in the Bible where Jesus expressed to us that the conditions prior to his return would be a time when faith would be rare. Let’s take a closer look at this passage shall we:
Luke 18:1-8: He told them a parable to illustrate that it is necessary always to pray and not lose heart. He said: “In a city there was a judge who did not fear God or regard man. And a widow was in that city. She came to him, saying, ‘Avenge me against my adversary.’ He would not for a while. Yet afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I do not fear God or respect man, yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she will weary me.’ And the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge says. And shall not God avenge His own elect and be patient with them, who cry day and night to Him? I tell you, He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”
In this passage, Jesus is emphasizing to us that it is essential that we remain consistent in our prayer life as it will be the main key to breakthroughs and strength in the last days. He gives us a parable using a persistent widow and an unjust judge. In this passage, He tells us He will avenge quickly those who cry out night and day. But then He presents a chilling question: “When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” Why would the Lord ask this question? Perhaps He is giving us a clue that the conditions of the world will be so filled with darkness, oppression and tyranny that even His own followers will begin to lose hope and faith resulting in a direct blow to their prayer life.
Have you ever went through an attack resulting in your desire for praying and seeking the Lord coming to a near halt? Perhaps seasons of oppression or depression? With all the things that are happening right now across the world—economic uncertainties, nations near war with one another, racial tensions at an all-time high and lawlessness growing—it appears that this dark cloud is engulfing the body of Christ in this hour, resulting in many not attending church as they once did, not praying as much as they once did, and spending less time reading of the Word of God. All these things bring a crippling blow to our faith. It reminds me of the passage from Isaiah chapter 60:
Isaiah 60:2: For the darkness shall cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples; but the Lord shall rise upon you, and His glory shall be seen upon you.
Let me leave you with good news. Perhaps you feel like your faith has been affected by all the events taking place around the world and the gross darkness that is swallowing the people. If so, we can call upon the name of the Lord and He promises to arise, and His glory shall be seen upon us! Remember what the Lord said in the parable of the unjust judge: “And shall not God avenge His own elect and be patient with them, who cry day and night to Him? I tell you, He will avenge them speedily.”
Ricky Scaparo is a former pastor and founder of the international ministry “End Time Headlines“. {eoa}
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