Words and Faith

Luke 18:8: … when the Son of man comes, shall he find faith on the earth?

As a believer, my first response is yes, of course, “I’m a believer, I have faith!” And I would venture to say that most everyone who goes to church, and a lot of people who don’t, would have the same response.

The whole story is found in Luke 18: 1-8. This passage talks about an unjust judge, who after being pestered continually by a woman, grants her justice. After this parable, Jesus says, “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?"

What does this have to do with words? Everything! Faith is believing what someone says is true, and believing they will do what they say. It is sometimes acting on what they say because you believe it is the truth. Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word.” Faith and the Word are linked!

2 Corinthians 4:13 says, “It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak.” Faith or belief in the words we hear or read causes us to speak words with conviction and power. It is the foundation of what we will be talking about throughout this series of articles. We must believe that what God says in the Bible is true, because it impacts the power of our thoughts and words.

We found out in Numbers 12:19 and Titus 1 that God cannot lie. And it is important to God that we believe what He says. Remember that saying, “A man’s only as good as His word?” Since we’re made in God’s image, you might say God’s only as good as His word. And He cannot lie, therefore His word is good, never changes, and always remains true. Think about if you were to tell someone something that is true, and they kept saying, “Nuh-uh! I don’t believe you.” Imagine how frustrated you would become. Eventually, you’d probably say, “Just forget it”, and walk away. Perhaps you were trying to tell someone “I love you,” and they just wouldn’t believe you. Or, you were trying to warn someone of something, like the hole they were about to step into, or something a lot worse, and they refused to believe you and stepped into the hole, etc.” And you just had to watch them do it. Think how sad or horrified you’d be to have to stand there and watch it happen!

Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” It is essential for us to have faith in God and in His Words. How much of God’s Word do we really believe, and/or believe in enough to act on. When He warns us, do we heed His warning, or does He have to watch us walk headlong into the “hole” in front of us? Although this is an endless subject for consideration, let us each look at our own beliefs and lives, and let God speak to us through His Word.

Remember Isaiah 55:11? “So shall My Word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” If God’s Word is that sure, and He cannot lie, then let’s be encouraged to have faith in Him and in all His Word, so we will be able to emphatically say “Yes, He will find faith in me!”