October 10th 2021
When Jesus Returns To The Earth Will He Find Anyone Who Has Faith In Him?
Romans 12:2 (NIV)
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
In this country we are told we should seek wealth and live the good life. Of course, if we look around us, we see people who have received another type of message, as some people are homeless and poor not knowing where they will sleep tonight, and how they will obtain their next meal. Remember, however, this is not a new thing, as Jesus reminded His followers when He was still walking this earth. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. (Matthew 26:11). Paul wrote about not conforming to the patterns of this world. Maybe He was saying as followers of Jesus Christ, we should be trying to pattern our lives to conform to God’s will, “his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
We hear much today about the importance of self-esteem, with the implication that lack of self-esteem is the cause of many of the personal problems and antisocial activities of so many young people (and others as well) these days. Jesus once told His disciples to develop self-esteem we need to serve others. Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:25-28).
Therefore, if we would truly conform to the will of God for our lives, we should be esteeming others more than cultivating self-esteem in ourselves, esteem knowing and serving Christ more than all the riches and fame of the world, and esteem it a joyful privilege when we are enabled to grow more like Him through the trials and testing, He permits us to share. We should be directing our activities more toward gaining rewards for heaven than accumulating wealth on this earth. Jesus said, “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:31-33).
Paul wrote about thinking good thoughts to help us develop a good nature in this cursed world. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8). Try to keep your mind occupied with positive thoughts, and we will have less time available to dwell on the situations in our lives that may drag us down.
Paul wrote about being positive about the gift of salvation we have received through Jesus Christ. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no-one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10). Are you enjoying this the greatest gift of all? You do not have to wait for a special season, you can enjoy your salvation every day. What did God prepare in advance for you to do?
Paul wrote to Timothy about how some people will act in the last days. It seems this description fits the actions of some people who are living today. However, remember Paul wrote this for Timothy who was starting to serve in ministry at that time. But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. (2 Timothy 3:1-5).
I have thought of the last days as being the time after Jesus left this earth and went back into heaven. It seems the writer of Hebrews is echoing this same thought about the last days happening in the time in which he is writing. In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. (Hebrews 1:1-4).
It seems in these last days that there are too many people who are falling away from believing God’s Word, and instead they are following the leading of mankind, which will take them directly to hell when they die. Jesus left His followers with a command that we call the Great Commission! Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20). It makes we wonder, if we had followed this command since Jesus departed, how big would His church be today?
Jesus told a parable about an unjust judge, and He said the following, “And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:7-8). When Jesus returns to the earth will He find anyone who has faith in Him?
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Romans 12:2 (NIV)
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
In this country we are told we should seek wealth and live the good life. Of course, if we look around us, we see people who have received another type of message, as some people are homeless and poor not knowing where they will sleep tonight, and how they will obtain their next meal. Remember, however, this is not a new thing, as Jesus reminded His followers when He was still walking this earth. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. (Matthew 26:11). Paul wrote about not conforming to the patterns of this world. Maybe He was saying as followers of Jesus Christ, we should be trying to pattern our lives to conform to God’s will, “his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
We hear much today about the importance of self-esteem, with the implication that lack of self-esteem is the cause of many of the personal problems and antisocial activities of so many young people (and others as well) these days. Jesus once told His disciples to develop self-esteem we need to serve others. Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:25-28).
Therefore, if we would truly conform to the will of God for our lives, we should be esteeming others more than cultivating self-esteem in ourselves, esteem knowing and serving Christ more than all the riches and fame of the world, and esteem it a joyful privilege when we are enabled to grow more like Him through the trials and testing, He permits us to share. We should be directing our activities more toward gaining rewards for heaven than accumulating wealth on this earth. Jesus said, “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:31-33).
Paul wrote about thinking good thoughts to help us develop a good nature in this cursed world. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8). Try to keep your mind occupied with positive thoughts, and we will have less time available to dwell on the situations in our lives that may drag us down.
Paul wrote about being positive about the gift of salvation we have received through Jesus Christ. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no-one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10). Are you enjoying this the greatest gift of all? You do not have to wait for a special season, you can enjoy your salvation every day. What did God prepare in advance for you to do?
Paul wrote to Timothy about how some people will act in the last days. It seems this description fits the actions of some people who are living today. However, remember Paul wrote this for Timothy who was starting to serve in ministry at that time. But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. (2 Timothy 3:1-5).
I have thought of the last days as being the time after Jesus left this earth and went back into heaven. It seems the writer of Hebrews is echoing this same thought about the last days happening in the time in which he is writing. In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. (Hebrews 1:1-4).
It seems in these last days that there are too many people who are falling away from believing God’s Word, and instead they are following the leading of mankind, which will take them directly to hell when they die. Jesus left His followers with a command that we call the Great Commission! Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20). It makes we wonder, if we had followed this command since Jesus departed, how big would His church be today?
Jesus told a parable about an unjust judge, and He said the following, “And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:7-8). When Jesus returns to the earth will He find anyone who has faith in Him?
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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