At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.

Matthew 24:30

Jesus ends the Olivet Discourse with the disciples proclaiming that the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and the nations of the earth will mourn. (Matthew 24:30) They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. He reminds them that heaven and earth will pass away, but that His words will remain forever. (Matthew 24:35) In a world constantly changing, it is reassuring to know that God’s words are true. Although we live in an isolated segment of time, what is happening in the affairs of men and the events of our day are fulfilling what our Lord said would occur.

Jesus asks this question: when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth? (Luke 18:8) This question follows the parable of the persistent widow who kept going to the judge pleading for justice against her adversary.

For some time, he refused, but finally because of her persistence, he made sure that she received justice. Jesus commends those who cry out for justice in a demonstration of their faith in God. The Son of Man will be returning, and in the meantime, He has told us to keep the faith, to be persistent in prayer, and to seek justice through His mercy. It is easy to continue in our lives disregarding the fact that Jesus will one day return. He is preparing His bride, the church, for His return, and He is looking for faith on the earth upon His return.

As you look to the return of Jesus Christ, are you endeavoring to fulfill your part in bringing God’s kingdom to earth? Are there areas of your life where you have not been persistent in prayer? Is your faith a demonstration of your trust that God is in control? There will come a time, according to God’ Word, where persecution will increase; a time of spiritual decline and a time where the Christian message is considered obsolete. I believe that time is drawing near. Jesus is warning us to stand firm and persevere just as the widow did in the parable: When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth? (Luke 18:8)

Heavenly Father,

Increase my faith that I may persevere in my faith. Help me to overcome my complacency and give me renewed passion for Your Word. Heaven and earth will someday pass away, but Your Word will remain forever.

In Jesus’ name, Amen