Shall He find Faith?...the Wayfarer 2/23/16

Shall He find Faith?
2/23/16

“I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”
(Luke 18:8)

As I went about my daily chores and tasks that consume so much of the time spent for the week, once more putting in the required time it took to maintain the rather large area I try to keep mowed and neat, as usual I found time for reflection on the world in which I live, and the folks with whom I come into contact with regularly as well as the constant onslaught of the news delivered through means of the morning news shows and headlines that fill the airwaves and other media I turn to for information.

I reflected on messages heard in the past few weeks in churches attended, and in revivals attended, and those giving them, and those receiving them.

Having been blessed with having heard several men of God, and particularly blessed by hearing the Gospel preached by them in those places, the final portion of this opening verse drifted hauntingly once more into my consciousness to embed itself firmly demanding that further reflection and comment be given.

One older preacher in particular stood out in my mind, the consistency, fervor, and love with which the delivery of his message was given reminding me of those in the past that so influenced my life, that had I but closed my eyes, I could have easily been sitting in the bastions of faith of my youth listening once more to many so long departed from this earth.

Thoughts of this time of youth brought with it memories of the fervor of that youth, the young with whom I grew up that had so many plans and so much hope for the future.

The past gatherings at youth revivals, to hear an inspired speaker who was working the streets of cities among the poorest and most disenchanted of our society were brought to mind.

The “Jesus freaks” of old that were so promising in the delivery of their message of love and peace bore heavily on my mind along with the events that have since transpired in life that all but extinguished that hope that was then delivered by them, and all who proclaimed the need to return to the love demanded by Christ for each of our fellow human beings.

Those things were overshadowed and consumed by the events and “happenings” of others, preaching and teaching something different than was taught an preached by both those old preachers , the youth pastors, and the “Jesus Freaks”  of those days.

War, in all its gore and horror, the demonstrations against that war, the greed and politics of war, came to the forefront along with yet another “subculture” seeking answers to  the problems of the times through means of hallucinogens, escapism, false comfort delivered through philosophy and a myriad of religions that denied Christ, elevating mankind and man’s own abilities to overcome the problems of the day above the teachings left by Jesus, and through the scriptures that give true meaning and True Hope to those willing to maintain and hold on to the faith once professed by those “Jesus Freaks” of old.

Those things are still being substituted for the things left us by Jesus that still remain the only TRUTH, WAY, and LIFE, and remain inadequate to the task of deliverance as they were then and continue to be.

Times have much changed since the days of my youth.

Things honored and held dear to all are now spit upon and denigrated, their worth denied, and what is touted in their place was once considered; is still considered by God to be abomination.

In examining this scripture, from which I took my opening, 

you will find the parable of the woman who demanded justice despite having been denied it.

Jesus, somewhat humorously, tells a parable of a squeaky wheel that finally got the grease, and the necessity to be that squeaky wheel when approaching God with the problems we face.

This was followed by a second parable, another reminder of the importance of prayer, a reminder how we should pray.

It is the parable of the publican and the Pharisee standing in the temple and the prayers given, and how those prayers were perceived by God.

Perhaps the answer to my ruminations of what happened to that fervor of the youth around me and their plans and blueprint for a better future lies in the way they have approached that future and those plans.

Perhaps it lies in the fact that somewhere is forgotten the need for humility while making that noise to gain God’s attention, and the need to first apply to one’s self the requirements of those teachings given by Him.

This 18^th chapter of Luke is rich, and continues with other guidance neglected and forgotten by the generation of which I speak, who somehow seems to have failed in the passing on of that guidance as well.

It speaks of the need to come to God with the same faith exhibited of a little child, a faith not in self, or men around you but the faith of a child in the Father to hear and grant the petitions made to Him, and to dry the tears and make everything better as would and earthly Father who actually cares for his children.

The chapter continues to remind us that there is none good but God himself, and how difficult it is to be a child of that God, disciple of His Son.

It also provides the comfort that remind us that despite our own fallibility and shortcomings, that all things are possible with God, including the grace of that God giving salvation to those seeking it.

It addresses yet more of the things once addressed by those “Jesus Freaks” of the need to give up possessions and wants, seeking instead needs, particularly and specifically spiritual needs, which was forgotten or neglected by those young “freaks" at some point that led to their inability to continue  to actually make the difference they sought to make in the world.

This 18^th chapter gives prophecy of what is yet to come for Christ, and the reason for that coming crucifixion.

 It concludes with the miracle of a blind man having his sight restored.

I have not simply copied the words of this scripture, as I would ask the reader to go there yourself, in the same reflection used as this old Preacher went once again to a familiar, yet constantly new passage that bears so heavily on the condition and shape of the world in which we live, but more importantly bears far more heavily on the condition and shape of the souls inhabiting that world and the final destination of those souls.

Perhaps a few more blind may also find some sight; perhaps hope may find a bit more place in hearts once the restoral of that sight takes place. Perhaps the answer to the question asked in the 8^th verse of this rich chapter will be answered for the reader, as it has already been for this old preacher ruminating on coulda, woulda, shoulda’s of all generations as well as his own.

I remain that same simple sinner saved by grace through faith in God and the salvation provided through the love and sacrifice of His Son, my Savior, Christ Jesus, perhaps the older yet same fanatic freak of bygone days, in full knowledge that faith will prevail both on this earth, and beyond to the promise of eternity.

I remain the soldier chosen to promote and assure the existence of that faith, if only able to do so in some small way, for some small few.

2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Amen and Amen.
the Wayfarer