Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? Luke 18:8.

Two points of truth are stated in this text. First, "When the Son of man cometh"; there we have the certainty of God. Second, "Shall he find faith on the earth?" There we have the uncertainly of man.

The text does not read, "If the Son of man comes," not "when." "I will come again," Christ promised. We are guaranteed the return of Christ. One day the world as we know it will come to a full stop. This we can count on. Christ Himself will usher in the end of the world as we know it. This event will not be accomplished by the nuclear wars of men or the collapse of civilization. "When the Son of man cometh." "Even so, come, Lord Jesus." This is the certainty of God.

"Shall he find faith on the earth?" There is always an amazing contrast in the Bible between the certainty of God and the uncertainty of man. Concerning God, the Bible is always sure. Concerning man, there are serious questions. Faith will be hard to find. Nothing is abiding in life except as it is rooted in Christ and in His Word. Christ never fails us, though we often fail Him. Are we sure about our relationship to God?

Imagine an angel guest knocking on our door. Christ said He is standing at the door of our hearts. But here is a man so busy counting his gold that he cannot hear, or planning his pleasures so that he is indifferent; or the scholar so intent upon his books that he cannot be bothered; or the youth so captured by sports that he has no other interest.

Those for whom the end will be this sinful world, will be those who live worldly lives. Those who find the end is an empty blank will be those who have lived empty lives. Those for whom the end is destruction will be those who have lived sinful lives. Those for whom the end is Jesus Christ will be those who have lived in fellowship with Him.

The man who is without Christ's righteousness cannot afford to meet the Son of man whose life is one of perfect sinlessness. The man who has followed Christ here and now, will welcome Him when He returns. The Christ we live with now will be the same Christ we will live with for eternity.