ALONG
LIFE'S HIGHWAY
“Shall
He find faith on the earth?” (Luke, 18: 8)
This
most interesting question, asked by our Lord in the parable
of the unjust judge, is worthy of careful consideration today
by all who profess to believe in God.
***
The parable of Jesus, and the question at its conclusion,
should be of special interest to modern Israel, for it would
seem to be peculiarly descriptive of the times in which we
live.
***
In
The Complete Bible In Modern English, Ferrar Fenton gives
us this version: "He also showed them, by means of a
parable, that they ought to persist in prayer, without becoming
weary.”
"There was in a town", He said, "A judge, who
neither feared God, nor respected man. And in the same town
there was a widow, who kept coming to him, pleading, “Give
me justice against my adversary.” He refused, however,
for some time. But afterwards he argued thus with himself:
Although I neither fear God, nor care for man, yet, because
this widow gives me trouble, I will grant her justice; for
if I do not, she will distract me at last by her coming.”
"Mark, now," said the Master "What the unjust
judge determined. And will not God grant justice to His chosen,
who cry to Him day and night, and have pity upon them? HE
WILL, I TELL YOU, grant them justice very quickly.
When the Son of Man comes, however, will He find this faith
upon the earth?" (Luke 18: 8)
There is but slight difference between the text as given by
Ferrar Fenton and that found in the Authorized Version, except
that the former adds the word “THIS”, emphasizing
the particular kind of faith to which our Lord referred.
The parable of the unjust judge was not spoken to the world
in general, but was addressed to the disciples, and was used
to illustrate the loving care of God for "His own elect",
or, "His chosen who cry to him" for justice. This
parable, with the latter portion of the chapter preceding
it, deals with world conditions in the last days, or the "day
when the Son of Man is revealed."
Many startling assertions are being made today concerning
the Kingdom of God, and the time of its establishment upon
the earth. It is the humble opinion of the writer of these
lines that any attempt to fix the date of the coming of our
Lord, or the setting up of His kingdom is a mistake, and should
not be encouraged by our Israel publications. It was not intended
that the people be informed of certain facts or that the wisest
of our leaders should know, "The times or the seasons
which the Father hath put in his own power." (Acts 1:
7)
The disciples had asked Jesus the question that is being asked
today: "Lord, wilt thou at this, time restore again the
kingdom unto Israel?"
It was not for them to know the time of Israel's restoration,
and the answer given to the disciples at that time seems to
be the only appropriate answer to the same question today.
In the Olivet discourse Jesus answers similar questions asked
by his disciples, emphasizing the impossibility of any man
being able to determine and foretell the time of the Lord's
return, and the restoration of the kingdom of Israel.
Peter, James, John and Andrew came to Jesus, privately, asking
him to give them some information concerning these final events
in world history, information which, perhaps, could not be
divulged to the general public. "Tell us", they
said, "When shall these things be? and what shall be
the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?”
But even these favored few did not get the desired information.
He gave them a description of world events covering many centuries
of time, and warned them against teachers who would claim
to have special knowledge concerning these things, and warned
them that such knowledge was forbidden, saying: "But
of that day, and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels
which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father."
"Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the
time is." (Mark 13:1-37.)
The admonition of Jesus to "watch and pray" is of
far greater importance to Israel today than to know the exact
day and hour of' the Lord's coming. If it were possible for
man to know the day and hour when he might expect to hear
the cry, "Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to
meet him," multitudes would undoubtedly look forward,
at least with a curious expectancy, to the coming day, and
to make a final preparation for it. But something more than
a curious expectancy, or last moment decision to meet him
is necessary; a preparation must be made in which a spiritual
change comes to the individual watcher, a state of being which
is essential to an entrance into the coming kingdom. |
