Unfulfilled promises (part 2)
After being asked when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus informed His disciples that life would go on for some time before days of the Son of Man would arrive. He used several examples of what life would be like in the meantime, with an emphasis on the suddenness of the Son of Man’s arrival:
Luke 17:26-30 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be in the days of the Son of Man: people went on eating, drinking, marrying and giving in marriage until the day Noah boarded the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.
It will be the same as it was in the days of Lot: people went on eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building. But on the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be like that on the day the Son of Man is revealed.
The Jews were anticipating the Kingdom of God within their lifetime. Jesus knew that this new information would be disappointing for his disciples to hear.
Luke 18:1 He then told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not become discouraged.
After telling the disciples the parable, Jesus concluded with a couple of questions:
Luke 18:7-8 “Will not God grant justice to His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay to help them? I tell you that He will swiftly grant them justice.
Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find that faith on earth?”
When Jesus returns, will He find those that are expectantly praying and living in preparation for His arrival? Since Jesus pointed out that His return will come suddenly, are we preparing ourselves for the possibility that our generation will be the one He returns to?
Our instructions for preparation are the same that Jesus gave to His disciples – that no matter how normal, mundane, or disheartening the circumstances around us become, we need to pray always and not become discouraged. God will follow through on His promises…but do our choices show that we believe Him when He says that Christ will return?
Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find that faith on earth?
Keep Pressing,
Ken