Will Christ Find Faith?

"Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8)

This is perhaps one of the most intriguing questions Jesus ever put forth – from a human perspective it almost sounds as if He wonders about it Himself. There is no doubt that He will perform what He has promised to us; but will we perform what we have promised to Him? Can we patiently wait for Him to fulfill His Word, no matter how long it takes?

Rest assured that, “Now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed” (Romans 13:11). Two thousand years after His promise we are even closer to its fulfillment.

Luke 18:1-8 contains the Parable of the Persistent Widow. Luke prefaces Jesus' narration of the story of the widow's pestering of the unjust judge with the comment that our Lord gave this parable specifically to encourage people "to pray and not lose heart." The basic subject of this passage of Scripture deals with the question: Will a person ultimately cave in, downcast and discouraged, because of the difficulties and trials he faces throughout his Christian life, forsaking all the truth and opportunities God has given him?

As we approach the Passover, the Days of Unleavened Bread, and the tough times ahead, this should be a focal point of our continued examination of ourselves (2 Corinthians 13:5).

The apostle Paul exhorts us to avail ourselves of this yearly exercise to verify "whether [we] are in the faith"! He goes on to say that it is good to re-prove to ourselves that Christ is indeed dwelling in us. We should come out of this examination encouraged and thankful, determined to press on despite the troubles before us.

Christ's parable teaches us that we are to continue to pray and not falter or become dejected if our prayers do not seem to be answered right away. We are to come to understand that if a request is not granted immediately, God may be testing us, teaching us patience, or working out a purpose we cannot see. We must understand that He works on His timetable—not ours—and that He always works out what is best for us and for our particular situation (Romans 8:28). Our job, then, is to persevere in our faith in God, always trusting Him in what we ask of Him.

In the parable, we see the widow coming before the unrighteous judge with her complaint, though Christ never informs us about its specifics. We do not need to know the details; it could be any grievance. The callous judge has no pity in him, but the widow is so persistent that the judge reasons within himself that he had better avenge her lest she wear him out with her incessant visits. The phrase "weary me" literally implies striking blows and giving the recipient a pair of black eyes! This was one persistent woman!

God Will Act
If a reader of this parable is not careful, he could judge God as being comparable to the unjust judge, that is, that He will not answer our requests promptly unless we bother Him with constant pleas for help. Actually, Jesus is contrasting the faithfulness of our loving God to the cynical, self-serving, unrighteous judge. The latter is not in any way a good man, but a godless one who is just trying to shield himself from being annoyed.

Jesus is trying to get us to realize God's never-ending love and faithfulness to His children. We are to see that all that God is, the judge is not. God is always willing to hear us and to answer our prayers if according to His will. He always hears the cries of His own elect or chosen ones. Indeed, God will avenge or vindicate His people.

The point is that, if the unjust judge—who could not have cared less for the widow—at length responded to her cry merely to rid himself of her aggravating requests, then shall not God—who loves His chosen people and gave His Son for us—answer our prayers when we are under trial or in need?

Jesus ends verse 7 with the phrase "though He bears long with them." This seems to imply that God bears long with His people's cries for help. But this is not the sense. The pronoun "them" refers, not to God's elect, but to their oppressors, whom God endures far longer than we do. The Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary states: "[T]he meaning is, that although He tolerates these oppressions for a long time, He will at length interpose in behalf of His own elect."

Then, Jesus states emphatically in verse 8, "I tell you that He will avenge them speedily"! "Speedily" is probably another poor choice of words; it is better rendered "suddenly" or "unexpectedly." When God's tolerance of these oppressors has run its course, He will promptly act at the right time—"out of the blue," as it were—to deliver His people.

A Question of Faith
Then at the end of verse 8 comes the question that pertains to each one of us now, today, in this season. Based on the above parable promising God's faithfulness, Jesus asks the question, "Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"

The implication seems to be that very few will have the strength of faith that Jesus is talking about. As the God of the Old Testament, Jesus, having looked into man's heart from Creation and seeing humanity's trajectory to our day, had every reason to ask if there would be faith at the end time! Even the Jews of His lifetime, full of Messianic fervor, did not have the faith He is seeking! Would even His chosen people—Christians, the followers of Christ—have saving faith?

Do we have this faith? What, then, is the evidence Jesus is looking for that will establish that we have the faith He is looking for? Some might view this "faith" as a powerful individual faith to move mountains or to perform some other great miracle. Yet, what Jesus is looking for are those who completely trust Him as God, and based on that trust, are living by faith according to God's revealed truth despite all of the pulls and pressures from the world.

In Luke 4:4, Jesus tells the Devil, in response to the first of his temptations, "It is written: 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.'" This is not some general statement that allows us to choose what we will and will not obey, but a requirement for each of us, to the best of our ability, to follow every word of God in living our lives before Him. To do this takes real faith.

As we examine ourselves during this season of the year, we tend to look at individual sins and flaws that we see in ourselves, and that of itself is not at all wrong. We should be recognizing all manner of sin in us and striving to overcome it. However, in asking this question in Luke 18:8, Jesus is giving us a much larger picture to consider in our examination. In short, God has given us "the way of righteousness," a revelation this world just cannot comprehend, and He is looking for evidence that we not only assent to it but are also living it.

This is the season when all of us should deeply consider the evidence that we present to God and to the world that shows that we belong to Him. For some, just coming to church weekly, keeping the holy days, and tithing would seem to be all that is needed. For others, their understanding of God's plan can make them feel secure that they are on the right track.

Though these things are important, it is the works of obedience that change us, that reflect that we are striving to live as God lives. This is what God counts as proper evidence of our faith. In James 2:17, 20, 26, the apostle informs us that, without works, our faith is dead, and these works are defined as putting into practice the instructions of God in our lives, just as Abraham did on Mount Moriah (Genesis 22:2-12).

When God saw Abraham's obedience to His instructions, He said, "Now I know that you fear Me!" As hard as it is for us to measure up to what Abraham did in being willing to sacrifice his only son in obedience to God's command, God should be able to say this about each one of us. Do we have the faith to live by every word of God?

Humbling ourselves in obedience—especially when it hurts—makes a powerful statement to God.

Works and Fruit
This leads to another question: What works, evidences, or proofs must we exhibit so that we will be pleasing to Jesus Christ at His return?

Even though everyone has the same commandments and teachings to obey, because of the variety of people God calls into His church, each of us will have our individual challenges. Not only that, we are all at different levels of understanding and ability. Nevertheless, God knows both our weaknesses and what we need to overcome them.

For some, overcoming a particular lust of the flesh will seem like climbing Mount Everest in a driving snowstorm. For others, truly forgiving another person will seem an impossible task, even though God warns us that, if we will not forgive another, He will not forgive us (Matthew 18:21-35; 6:12, 14-15). Keeping the Sabbath and holy days in the face of losing a job can be a real trial. Faithfully tithing to God when there does not seem to be enough to go around can test us right in the pocketbook.

Learning to be kind and patient with others when doing so does not come naturally. Trying to raise our children "in the training and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4), striving to love each other as God commands over and over, watching what comes out of our mouths, learning to conduct ourselves in wisdom, etc.—all of these and many more can be high hurdles to cross. Yet, every one of us has our peculiar areas of difficulty to overcome; none of us is perfect.

The churches of this world generally teach that all a person has to do is to believe on Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, intellectual and even emotional beliefs on their own produce the static, idle faith that James speaks about—dead faith. However, in one who is truly called by God—an individual who has living faith—his belief galvanizes into a conviction that will produce righteous works. These works ultimately produce the "much fruit" that will glorify God the Father (John 15:8).

Just what is the faith that Jesus Christ is looking for? It is a faith far greater than we might imagine. It is faith, not just in individual truths or doctrines, but in an entire way of life—the righteous, holy way that God Himself lives. God wants us to accept and follow the whole package of Christian living that He reveals in His Word.

Granted, it is very hard to do. We live in one of the most sinful, evil, corrupt, self-centered societies of all times, and our patience and conversion are being severely tested. The world wants us to come out of the narrow way that protects us, teaches us, and prepares us for our future. It is pushing and enticing us to accept the broad way that will pull us down to failure and destruction (Matthew 7:13-14).

But the life that God has called us to is truly awesome! In John 17:3, Jesus declares the kind of life we have been chosen to live by faith: "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." Living this eternal life gives us the ability to know God: how He thinks, makes decisions, shows His love, feels for others, extends mercy and forgives, etc. In other words, living God's way now allows us—as much as is humanly possible—to know the mind and ways of God. It is in God and His incredible way that we must have faith.

Because our calling and potential are so tremendous, God gives us a warning to consider:  
For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.(2 Peter 2:20-21)

Once we start down this road, we have committed ourselves to following it to the very end.

For this reason, Paul challenges us in 2 Corinthians 13:5 to examine ourselves as to whether we are in the faith. He tells us to test ourselves to prove that Christ lives in us. We will not fail the test if we draw close to Him and truly work to make the changes we need to make as individuals to take on the very nature and life of God.

Then, when the question arises, "When the Son of man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" the answer will be a resounding, "Yes!"


Today's Prayer
Almighty, eternal God, When the Spirit descended upon Jesus at his baptism in the Jordan, you revealed him as your own beloved Son. Keep us, your children, born of water and the Spirit, faithful to our calling. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. AMEN

The Cost of Following Christ

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. (Matt 16:24-25 KJV)

Why do only a few people follow Christ for a lifetime?

Why do some appear to follow for a time and then fall away?

What prevents us from following Jesus wholeheartedly?

Why do many of us prefer to build on the sand rather than the rock?

As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

It can't be that we don't know about Him. With all the technology available today, the archaeological research confirming the people and places of the Bible, the immense volumes of writings of believers explaining their faith, and the exegetical study of the words of the Bible - it's as if we know so much, yet believe so little.

He said to another man, "Follow me." But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."

Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family." Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:57-62)

The difficulty does not appear to be WHAT we know, but rather DOING what we know.

What keeps us from following Jesus wholeheartedly?

We want security: home, job, marriage, family. We want personal pleasure and comfort: an easy life, no conflict, to get along with everyone (compromise). We want earthly rewards: prosperity, popularity, friendships, leisure time. Some follow only with 'conditions'. Jesus, however, wants complete loyalty with no conditions. Total dedication, not halfhearted commitment. We can't pick and choose among Jesus' ideas and follow him selectively. Jesus did not appoint us to be editors who select the portions of Jesus' teaching which we "think" are irrelevant.

This man said in Luke 9:57-62, he first wanted to bury his father. It's likely the father was not yet dead and the man wanted to wait until he died. Our priorities do not place Jesus at the top. Some have one foot in heaven and one foot in this life. They cannot let go of the things of this earth.

They say, "Let me take care of important family matters first."

"Let me take care of my financial situation first."

"Show me a miracle"

"Heal me."

We must be willing to abandon everything else that has given us security and not allow anything to distract us from the calling He has made in our lives.

As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him.

When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. (Mark 1:16-20)

Simon and Andrew left their sole livelihood, their job to respond to Jesus' call. James and John left their job and their father to follow Jesus.

Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.

While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Mark 2:13-17)

Levi, renamed Matthew by Jesus, gave up his job as a tax-collector which likely included great wealth and power.

The Pharisees were uncomfortable with Jesus' life-style and attitude that allowed Him to be willing to associate with those whom the Pharisees had judged as evil people, those who did not follow the Mosaic law: tax collectors, adulterers, robbers and the like.

Many churches tend to treat people like this by rejecting them or demanding they change first. Other churches expect the convert to demonstrate "signs and wonders" proving their allegiance to Christ.

Then, there is the double standard within some Christian churches. Christian leaders point their finger at cults and cult leaders and accuse them of deceiving their members.

Perhaps we need to examine our own history as Christians believers. How many Christians today are guilty of the same sins? Too often our Christianity is in our mouths and not in our minds. Often the outsider can see through our facades; he calls it hypocrisy. He has heard the stories of Christian churches that have been divided by anger and hatred. He knows about the deacon who left his wife to run away with the church organist. He knows how some of the Sunday morning faithful spend Saturday night.

The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, "Follow me." Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote--Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."

"Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked. "Come and see," said Philip. (John 1:43-47)

The first thing Philip did after he followed Jesus was he told someone else: evangelism. Nathanael response was at first skepticism. What about Christ stirs skepticism today? What stereotypes about Christ prevent people from trusting Him today? We must set aside all our preconceived ideas about Christ and allow Him to fill our hearts and minds with the true Spirit.

Many today respond to Jesus with a lack of commitment. They believe with their mind, but not their heart. They are skeptical about who He is. They are not willing to give up themselves to follow him. They are willing to follow some of His commands, but not willing to sacrifice their own needs. They may hold on to parents, siblings, or children.

"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters ... he cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14.26)

"If anyone comes to me and does not hate ... -- yes, even his own life -- he cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14.26)

Whose goals and aspirations direct your daily living? God's or your own carnal, self-centered desires?

There is a flow of obedience in our lives - a flow that springs from the motives of the heart.

What does it mean then, to follow Christ?

Clearly, we must step out of our comfort zone. We're not to be sitting in church but reaching out to the lost and the needy. We're to be telling others about the Savior! It's a life of evangelism and sacrifice of self.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matt. 28:19-20)

Expect resistance

We are told in Scripture that men will reject three things:

God created the world, which at first was covered with water (which means that its surface was cool at the beginning, not a molten blob as evolutionists teach).

God once judged this world with a global, cataclysmic flood at the time of Noah.

God is going to judge this world again, but the next time it will be by fire.

First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is this `coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. (2 Peter 3:3-7)

The scoffers skepticism is based upon their evil desires, which lead them to prefer a view of the future in which there is no divine judgment. The scoffers maintain that everything in the world goes on without divine intervention.

Notice that the emphasis here is on a deliberate rejection, or as some translations put it, a "willing ignorance." Thus, it is a deliberate action on a person's part not to believe. People refuse to believe these things even when presented with evidence -people simply do not want to be convinced. Ignoring the flood as a divine intervention was not an oversight; it was deliberate.

We read in Romans 1:20 that there is enough evidence to convince everyone that God is Creator, so much so that we are condemned if we do not believe. Furthermore, Romans 1:18 tells us that men "suppress the truth in unrighteousness."

It is not a matter of lack of evidence to convince people that the Bible is true; the problem is that they do not want to believe the Bible. The reason for this is obvious. If people believed in the God of the Bible, they would have to acknowledge His authority and obey the rules He has laid down.

What does Christ expect you to give up to follow Him?

What are you willing to give up in order to follow Christ?

What does Jesus ask all of us to do?

Yes, becoming a Christian and deciding to follow Christ has costs and some of them can prove difficult for us. Some of us may start to fear and perhaps lose heart when the costs show up in our life. But before we lose heart lets look at what scripture tells us about "taking heart" and how God will help us handle each cost and what it buys for us.

Cost #1. We are to forfeit the world and its pleasures… but take heart in (Matthew 6:33)

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthews 6:33)

Cost #2. We will be persecuted by the world for following Christ ... but take heart in (John 15:19 & Philippians 3:20)

If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. (John 15:19)

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, (Philippians 3:20)

Cost #3. We will suffer in order that our faith might grow ... but take heart in (1 Peter 1:6-7)

These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1 Peter 1:6-7)

 Cost #4. We will suffer to bring Glory to Christ. .. but take heart in (2 Corinthians 4:15-17)

All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.    (2 Corinthians 4:15-17)

Cost #5. We will be attacked by Satan… but take heart in (2 Timothy 4:18)

The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (2 Timothy 4:18)

Cost #6. When we sin, it will be revealed and we will be disciplined… but take heart in (Hebrews 12:5-6)

And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." (Hebrews 12:5-6)

So in summary recognize the costs of following Jesus but take heart and do not be afraid of them for the benefits far outweigh the costs. Remember the thing man really needs to fear is being found not following Christ.

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." (John 3:36)

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28) 

To Whom Shall We Go?

Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. (John 6:68 KJV)

Reaction of True Disciples
Jesus now turns to his twelve apostles and asks if they want to leave also. Is it too much for you like it is for the rest of these disciples? Peter’s answer is a wonderful statement of faith, showing God’s law has been written on his heart. “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:68–69) Peter's response is powerful and great. He knew where truth originated! He had heard the voice on the Mountain saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; listen to him!" He had seen Jesus' words change reality and destroy barriers to God's love and truth. Indeed, he knew that there was no one else who had the words of eternal life! 

His brave words mean something like this:

"A long time ago we began to follow you. We've watched you up close. Some things you do frighten us because we've never seen anything like it before. You say things that blow our minds. You don't mind offending powerful people. You aren't like any Rabbi we've ever known before. We've looked at the alternatives, and we've figured out that there is no one else who can do what you do. We know you are the Holy One of God. So we've made our choice. We're sticking with you all the way to the end."

For us, too, following Jesus often involves levels of commitment we didn’t expect on the front end.  While this matter of “eating his flesh” and “drinking his blood” may be among Jesus’ most difficult teachings in the New Testament, there is no shortage of other difficult teachings.  Like Peter and the Twelve, the only thing that will keep us “connected to the vine” is our firm conviction, forged through personal, intimate experience, that Jesus of Nazareth is indeed the Holy One of God.

Where else are we supposed to go? There is nowhere else to go and there is no one else to go to. Jesus has the words of eternal life. Listen to Jesus is everything. We have listened to the words of Jesus and know that he is the Holy One of God. No one else can satisfy like Jesus. Life is not found anywhere else. True disciples understand this. No matter how challenging Jesus can be, there is nowhere else to go. Jesus is the Holy One of God. Jesus is our only hope.

Other teachers may do good or not, but they will do no great harm so long as they do not keep men away from Christ, nor take men away, nor tempt them to go away. Temptation to this there always has been of some sort. The disciples must have felt it when they were being left in a small minority, especially when those who had a reputation for clear-headedness and learning were mostly in the majority. They must have felt also, as others did, that in the teaching of Jesus there was much beyond their comprehension. From such temptations how were they saved?

I. The disciples’ conviction.
Not by their admiration of His character or of His teaching, nor by their affection for His Person, but by this conviction, ‘Thou hast the words of eternal life.’ His words supplied what had been wanting in the words of man from the beginning. Life—life of soul and body—what is it; will it continue, or will it come to an end? Such questions had weighed on the minds of all generations. Not only this, but we take all life to be that power in soul and body which is always fighting for health, and is itself untouched by decay, untainted by disease or death, so that any one who could tell of life which is everlasting could tell also of palliative or remedy for everything that would cut us off from life. It was no wonder that the disciples, persuaded of this, should refuse to go away.

II. How had the conviction come to them?
For two years they had been with Him, carefully listening and observing. They heard Him speak, as never man spake, such things as they felt in their inmost hearts that all men required to hear. They saw in Him the power to give life, healing all manner of diseases, bidding even the dead arise; they saw that all the powers of Nature were at His command; they saw Him holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners, boundless in compassion and love; they saw that all He was, and all He said and did, was in full accordance with what He professed to be; and, above all, those outward facts were crowned by the profound experience of new life and new power in themselves, which had come to them from Him. Before other two years had passed by they had seen and experienced greater things than these, and as they communed with their own hearts, or spake one with another, in their recollections of the past, there would always be the glad thought that they had not gone away.

III. Their conviction may be ours.
Let no one, be he teacher or not, step between us and our portion. Its value would be gladly proclaimed out of the fullness of our own hearts and minds, if we did but give them liberty, and thus and thus would they speak: The teacher and friend I need and long for, who alone can meet my case, is one who knows at least what it is to live in the body, as well as to be tempted through the soul and the body; who could speak to me with the voice of authority about sin and pardon; who could be always with me, and go where I go and stay where I stay; who could see me in the darkness as well as in the light, and see my whole being throughout, for how else could he bring me help? One who could say to me, ‘It is I be not afraid,’ and to the storm, ‘Peace, be still,’ and to the power of evil, ‘Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further’; one who could fathom my perplexities, enlighten my darkness, and never misunderstand me; who could heal the sores of my conscience, rule my passions, and understand the groanings that I cannot utter; one who knows what the valley of death is, and would be with me there, and who can speak for me in the Day of Judgment, and receive me to glory. To whom then shall I go? To whom but to Thee, Lord Jesus? Thou art offering Thyself to us for all this and more, able to save to the uttermost, to the glory of God the Father.

What are some steps that we can take to see Jesus as the bread of life and let God write his law on our hearts? First, pray. Pray to God for a softening of your heart. Prayer is so important to the Christian walk. Pray to God the words a father declared to Jesus. “I believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). Tell God your weaknesses and your struggles. Second, read God’s word with intent. Mindlessly reading the scriptures will not affect the heart. Take small portions of God’s word. Read those words and reflect on what you have read. Think about how those words affect your life. Pray those words to God. We have to bring the word of God from our eyes to our hearts. This is the only way to see that Jesus has the words of eternal life. It is the only way that we will come to true, saving faith. It is the only way that we will appreciate that he is the bread of life. It is the only way to be taught by God.

Would we go back to our former way of life? Are we going to reject the challenge of Jesus and go back to our empty way of life? The former way of life is a way that has no meaning, no lasting joy, and no lasting value. It is a life that put a bandage on your deepest needs, but does not resolve or satisfy your life’s needs. Jesus says to drink of him and he will satisfy your thirst. Feed on him and he will satisfy your hunger. How could we go back? See Jesus as the answer to your every need.

In Christ we have a love that can never be fathomed; a life that can never die; a righteousness that can never be tarnished; a peace that can never be understood; a rest that can never be disturbed; a joy that can never be diminished; a hope that can never be disappointed; a glory that can never be clouded; a light that can never be darkened; a happiness that can never be interrupted; a strength that can never be enfeebled; a purity that can never be defiled; a beauty that can never be marred; a wisdom that can never be baffled; and resources that can never be exhausted. 

If that is true-and it is!...how could a Christian ever go anywhere else? 
Let the world think what it will. Jesus is Lord! By God's grace, we will follow him to the end. 

Today's Prayer
Almighty God, thank you for making Jesus so accessible to me. Jesus helps me see the full extent of your love. Jesus helps me more completely understand your message about wanting to redeem me and make me your own. I want to always come to Jesus for truth, grace, refreshment, and hope. There is no other one that I want to be my Lord except my crucified Savior, Jesus. Today, Father, gently confront me in those areas where I have yet to fully yield to your Son's lordship in my life. In the precious name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Divine Life and Light

In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.(John 1: 4-5 KJV)

Consider life for just a moment. Try to define it. Try to put it in words. It is more than merely saying we are living beings. It is more than simply breathing or our heart pumping or our brain running. It is beyond our intellect to try to explain all the processes that must take place for you and me to live. It is overwhelming to consider what all is needed for us to truthfully say we are alive. But Jesus knows. And, even better he is it. He started it. He created it. He fashioned it. He is life. Take Jesus away and there is no life.

Consider light for just a moment. Can you imagine the moment when light burst forth to overwhelm darkness? We, for the most part, have never known total darkness. Picture total darkness in your minds-think about the fear and the anxiety that comes with being in the dark. Feel your heart racing, your palms sweating, your body shaking. Then, imagine God saying "Let there be light." And light burst forth to overwhelm the darkness. I suppose a blind person receiving their sight might have an inkling of understanding of this transcendent moment. I read of a blind man who gained his sight saying: "I never knew that red was so vibrant; the sun sets were so beautiful; the grass was so green; and the smiles so precious." Yet Jesus was there. He ignited light.

In Jesus we have the embodiment of both life and light. As John continues his introduction of Jesus, he focuses on the pair of words: Light and life. John wrote, "In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it" (John 1:4-5). In this verse, through these two words, Jesus is saying, "I will show you the way to God."

Life and light are the two basic words on which John's introduction of Jesus is presented. These words reveal two more truths about Jesus.

I. The Truths
A. Jesus is the life-giver
John says, "In him was life." John uses the term life thirty-six times in his gospel. Jesus says time and time again that he is the giver of life, the author of life. To Maratha as her brother Lazarus lay dead in the tomb, Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25)
To Thomas, who was bewildered about death and the afterlife, Jesus states, "I am the way and the truth and the life" (John 14:6). To a crowd of people, Jesus utters, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10).

The word John uses for life is zoe in which the English words zoo and zoology are derived. It refers to life as God has it. It is the essence of life not limited by time, nor hindered by death. The word zoe stands in contrast to another Greek word for life, bios, in which the English word biology is derived. It refers to the duration of life-one's life span, the time between one's birth date and one's death date; or it refers to the necessities of life-one's food, shelter, and clothing.

As a divine gift, the life became the light that points people to God. Now, John presents the second truth.

B. Jesus is the light-bearer.
John continues, ". . . that life was the light of men." There is an interesting grammatical construction here. In the Greek text both "life" and "light" carry the definite article. So this phrase could be translated as it is printed: "that life was the light of men" or "that light was the life of men." Either way works. Either is true. Just as John links life with Christ, so does he link light with Christ. Just as the first Creation began with "Let there be light!" so the New Creation begins with the entrance of light into the heart of the believer. The coming of Jesus Christ into the world was the dawning of a new day for sinful man.

John uses this word light twenty-one times in his gospel. Jesus said on two occasions, "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12, 9:5). To the people of John's day, light was symbolic of deity. The Rabbis used light as a name for the Messiah that was promised to come. When John said Jesus is the light, he is claiming that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah. It was another way he was saying that Jesus is God.

C. Darkness is the villain.
Over against light and life is darkness. In John's story Jesus is the hero, and darkness is the villain. John continues, "The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it." The darkness stands as the antithesis to the light and life. Darkness stands for life without Christ, and especially for that which has turned its back on Christ. With one word, darkness, John introduces Satan, who, by the way, is called "the power of darkness" (Luke 22:53). 

The cosmic struggle between God and Satan is revealed. In fact, Satan strives to keep people in the darkness, because darkness means death and hell, while light means life and heaven.

The words not understood mean simply that the world cannot understand the demands of Christ. We see this over and over again in John's gospel that the people will not understand what Jesus is saying and doing and, as a result, they will oppose him. And, in the end, they kill him for their misunderstanding. But, the words not understand can also mean never overcome, a reminder that Satan will never overcome Jesus. Try as it might, the darkness cannot extinguish the light. The people killed Jesus. It appeared that Satan had won. But Jesus rose from the dead, victorious.

II. The significance
What does all of this talk about life, light, and darkness mean to us?

A. Jesus gives you something you could never get on your own.
The point that John is making is that Jesus has brought us physical life but he wants to give us eternal life. We may know life as humans have it, but not know life as God has it. We can be breathing, our heart pumping blood, but not have everlasting life. The life that Jesus gives is infinitely and eternally different than the life one possesses now. Jesus wants to give you something you could never get on your own-eternal life.

The clearest statement that Jesus made about this gift is the most quoted and most endearing verse: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

B. Jesus gives you something better than you deserve.
Not only does Jesus gives you something you could never get on your own-eternal life, he gives you something better than you deserve-abundant life. Here's the twist. Jesus promises to give us eternal life, meaning that when we die, we live with him for eternity. But before that happens, he promises to give us an enhanced life while we are here on this earth. The life that he gives is not only eternal; it is abundant. Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10). Jesus quantifies this life. The phrase "have it to the full" (John 10:10) is translated "abundantly" or "fullness" or "overflowing." The word means to have a superabundance of a thing. It carries with it the idea of overflowing the container, more than one can handle, that which goes beyond necessity, life beyond our wildest dreams. It takes the characteristics of vitality, meaning energy, purpose, significance, outlook, hope, and joy. In our modern vernacular, we could say Jesus gives an upgrade on life.

Have you ever received an upgrade?  Who doesn't like upgrades?

Whether it is on rental cars, hotel rooms, carpet for your home, or memory for your computer. We like upgrades. We want upgrades.

Perhaps you have never thought of it this way before, but the life that Jesus gives is an upgrade. He upgrades despair to hope, bondage to freedom, perplexity to peace, and illness to health (to mention but a few). His most significant upgrade for us is in moving us from a predicament of lostness to the paradise of salvation, from a destination of hell to heaven. While we don't deserve it, he gives it.

Who doesn't want eternal life? Who doesn't want abundant life? If we have any sense, we should be saying, "Point me to it." Which Jesus does.

C. Jesus shows you where to go when you could never find it on your own.
Jesus is the light. The first definition for "light" in the dictionary is "something that makes vision possible." In other words, light makes it possible for us to see. Without light, we are hopelessly blind-blind to our spiritual predicament, blind to the way out of spiritual darkness. Light makes it possible for us to see clearly, to see things as they really are. Jesus came as light to help a blind world regain its sight, to show people the way. Jesus said, "I have come into the world as light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness" (John 12:46). On another occasion Jesus said, "I have come into this world, so that the blind will see" (John 9:39). Jesus brings us the light that restores us from spiritual darkness.

While on maneuvers, a battleship lookout noted a light in the dark, foggy night. After noting the light's coordinates, the captain recognized his ship was on a collision course with the other vessel. The captain instructed, "Signal the ship: We are on a collision course; advise you change course 20 degrees." The return signal countered, "Advisable for you to change course 20 degrees."

The captain signaled, "I'm a captain, change course 20 degrees." The response was, "I'm a seaman second class, you'd better change your course 20 degrees." By this time the captain was furious. His signal curtly ordered, "I'm a battleship. Change course 20 degrees." The reply: "I'm a lighthouse. You make the call."

Without Christ we are like a ship lost on the open sea in a dense fog, groping for the eternal shore, waiting with beating heart for someone to dispel the darkness with the light of salvation. That is what Christ has done, he has provided the light in the darkness of our sin, our doomed existence, so that we can see God and be rescued from our ill-fated damnation.

Are you walking in the light today or are you still in darkness? Do you need to change your course so as not to meet your eternal demise?

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12).

III. The trust
These benefits of eternal life, abundant life, and spiritual life exist only in relationship with Jesus. Notice in John 1:4, John says, "In him was life." John uses the words "In him" not "by him" or "through him." In other words, the life that Jesus brings both the quantity and quality does not exist apart from a relationship with Christ. The life that belongs to God becomes ours when we enter into a relationship with Jesus.

Jesus reiterates this thought: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10). The I in this verse is emphatic, meaning that life is found in no other than him. Life is entered by no other than Jesus himself.

Physical life is granted to all who are living. Eternal, abundant, and spiritual life, while offered to all, is only possessed by those who trust in Jesus. Life! Not just living, but true, genuine life. Life that gives us light that darkness cannot steal away. That's why God sent Jesus! Thankfully that light still shines and all of Satan's horses and all of Satan's men cannot put their deepest darkest darkness together again! Hallelujah!

Life has one source; spiritual eyesight is obtained one way; heaven can be entered through one access. And the single means of admission to all that is life and light is Jesus. 

What must we do? Trust in the life-giver and follow the light-bearer, Jesus.

Today's Prayer
For every good and perfect gift, for the light I have even in my moments of deepest darkness, for the hope I have of living with you in glorious and unapproachable light, I thank you and praise you with eternal joy, now and forevermore. In Jesus' name. Amen!