“Shall not God avenge His own elect which cry day and night to Him though He bear long with them? I tell you He will avenge them speedily; nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, shall He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:7-8)

Faith (Def): (Gr.): Pistis from Peitho: Persuasion, i.e. Credence, Moral Conviction of Truth expressed continuously, Assurance, Belief, Fidelity

There is with special regard for things invisible, or unseen a requirement to believe in the existence thereof, or the hope, or joyful expectation of their future manifestation in the visible world. This is essential reality in the matter of faith.

It is especially poignant that Christ so sternly rebuked His own disciples upon His resurrection for their unbelief when it was told them He was alive and had risen from the dead (cf. Luke 24:10-11, 25-26). With so much unbelief among us, is it that surprising Christ raised the question regarding the matter of faith, “when the Son of Man comes, shall He find faith on the earth?”

There was such a time before in history when of all the millions on earth only eight souls had faith in the Creator, the Lord of Heaven and Earth and Ruler of the Nations.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

In the Matter of Faith there are two things that must come together: (1) “things hoped for” and (2) “things not seen”. These two are, indeed, real things, i.e. things that exist. In the moment of faith and hope coming together the objects of the faith and hope are believed to exist, or possible, but are an invisible expectation yet to be manifested and seen with human eyes. To deny the reality of the object’s existence or possibility is to abide in unbelief.

“Without faith it is impossible to please God; for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

Jesus Himself commanded us, “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22b).

Do you have faith in God? Do you believe He exists? Do you believe He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek for Him? In the Matter of Faith this is where it begins. These are the fundamental things. You cannot move forward without them. The Apostles Creed begins:

“I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth.

If you cannot make that statement, you are in total unbelief, darkness and should you die there, you are eternally lost. Or, as written in the Gospel of John, you shall perish (cf. John 3:16).

In the Matter of Faith there has to be a beginning, there has to be a source. That beginning, that source is the Word of God (cf. John 1:1). Faith comes when we hear the Word of God (cf. Romans 10:17).

In the Matter of Faith there has to be a touching, an agreement, a coming together. The Word of God comes, I hear that word, I believe that Word, I receive that Word into my spirit, I confess that Word is True, or is Truth. I hold fast to that Word, I become one with that Word and that Word, as a Seed, produces itself in me and produces its Fruit in me and I become a living Witness that that Seed is Truth and Life. I live by faith (cf. Romans 1:17) because that Seed, though real and in existence, yet, is invisible, unseen in this realm, but is more real than the reality of this realm, because this earthly realm is temporal, corruptible and perishable; whereas the reality of the spiritual realm is eternal, incorruptible and imperishable. For us this earth realm is mortal, the heavenly realm is immortal (cf. I Corinthians 15:53-54). One day our change will come. We believe in that reality by faith and with that faith we are eternally saved. We will never perish, but have everlasting life.

Let us begin here. Let us believe. Then In the Matter of Faith, when the Son of Man comes, He will find it in His Elect, His Brethren, His Bride, His own, of His kind, His Seed and we will abide together, in covenant, in agreement with Him forever.

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