Today’s Scrip-Bit 22 July 2026 Luke 18:8b.
Luke 18:8b. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Oh, what a month July has been climate wise; from heat warnings, to air quality warnings to thunderstorms and now to windstorms. Yes we had a dilly of a thunderstorm yesterday evening, one very worthy of the name for Thor, the God of Thunder, like a crazy rock drummer banged his whatever incessantly for almost an hour straight. And even after the rain had eased up, Thor was still there carrying on. (smile) It’s the loudest and longest bout of thunder I’ve heard in a long while. And then today, our second wind Wednesday, the temperature has dropped and the wind is causing havoc amongst the trees. So what’s next eh?
Let’s hope that the rain helped to decrease the forest fires up north and thus increase our air quality. And anyone over twenty years of age, who doesn’t believe that climate change is real, had better get their head examined. Anyway, today we’ll look at a rather interesting question Jesus asked when telling the parable of the Persistent Widow. ‘Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?’ (Luke 18:8b) Now that’s a very good question especially with the increasing evil and ungodliness of our times.
It seems that Jesus was encouraging persistent prayer, and possibly warning about spiritual apathy, predicting a period of widespread faithlessness rather than universal belief before the end of the age. And, as per this overview, ‘true, unwavering faith will be exceptionally rare and difficult to find during the turbulent period preceding His return. Rather than a guaranteed mass revival, the scripture points toward a time of widespread spiritual complacency and hardship, though Jesus reassures His followers that He will always find a faithful remnant who have held fast.’
And that’s no lie! Regardless of how evil, ungodly and difficult times become, there will always be a small, surviving, faithful few who will rise above it all and stand strong for Jesus. There’s absolutely no doubt about that! However, all through the New Testament, we find warnings of apostasy; warnings against falling away from the faith due to persecution or deception, and prophetic descriptions of widespread spiritual rebellion in the last days. Jesus Himself warned us when talking about false prophets and teachers.
And having mentioned the wars and rumours of war plus all the other disasters that will befall the earth before he returns, (Matt. 24:4-9) Jesus declares: ‘And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity (lawlessness) shall abound, the LOVE of many shall wax (grow) cold. But he that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved.’ (Matt. 24:10-13) And we’re certainly seeing a lot of that right now, as our world daily becomes more evil and ungodly.
Meanwhile Bruh Paul mentioned the falling away several times in his letters, especially to Timothy. In his first letter, talking about teaching no other doctrines but what he’s heard from him (Paul), he says; ‘This charge (command) I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee (previously made concerning you), that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away (rejected) concerning faith have made (suffered) shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.’ (1 Tim. 1:18-20)
And as the scholars explain: ‘Because some rejected their inner moral voice of conscience, they have strayed far from the truth of God into theological heresy. Often religious error has its roots in moral rather than intellectual causes.’ Then later in that first letter Bruh Paul warns Timothy about false teachers. ‘Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing (deceiving) spirits, and doctrines of devils: Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats (foods), which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving. For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained (carefully followed).’ (1 Tim. 4:1-6)
Ah mih bredrin, if you think it’s rough out there right now, think again, because it will apparently get even rougher. And the scholars offer these explanations. As per speaking lies in hypocrisy, they say, ‘the demons of verse 1 expound their doctrines, not directly, but indirectly through such human ministers. These are further described as having their conscience seared with a hot iron, that is branded (scarred) in their conscience. Permanently defaced, the moral life of these hypocrites is scarred by sin as they carry around the awareness of their guilt, yet continue preaching to others. Two examples of demonic doctrines are cited here, prohibition against marriage, and abstaining from certain foods.’ Meanwhile God made man for marriage, and all foods created by God for man are good, sanctified through prayer and thanksgiving.
And the final warning from Bruh Paul to Timothy comes in his second letter, as he reminds him to preach the word. ‘I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick (living) and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant (ready) in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.’ (2 Tim. 4:1-5)
Yes friends, we’re seeing a lot of that right now; lots of teachers who are appealing to itching ears; that’s telling people what they want to hear, not what they need to hear. And it’s so sad that the word of God is being manipulated to give us good feelings rather than the truth we need to hear. But that’s all a part of getting to the end times and Jesus’ return. So let’s make sure that we don’t fall for those demon inspired preachers and stay the course with the truth of God’s Word. Now, let’s go home declaring our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Jesus Christ.
As one strong and sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
And if we stick right to the very end with Jesus, then we’ll enjoy a more glorious future than we can ask or imagine. So let’s stick close to Him like white on rice nuh, so we can enjoy that more than glorious future together! Much LOVE!
…staying in faith is not easy…but the rewards are enormous…and certainly worth the pressure…
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