Faith Must Remain

Today’s message

I feel the weight of the adverb of time in the text: now. Now, with iniquity growing, with troublesome times, with the love of almost everyone growing cold, Jesus asks if, when He returns, He will find faith on the earth. I look at you and repeat Paul's cry in my ear: it must remain. Faith is not a luxury for good days; it is an anchor for bad days. And your faith is being targeted. There is a pebble in your shoe trying to make you limp. But I declare: it will not steal your faith.

Hebrews says that faith is the foundation of what we do not see and the certainty of what we hope for. I translate it as this driving force here inside the chest. It came. It came when we heard the Word. It was not born of our effort; it is a gift of grace. This faith moves our daily life: gets us out of bed, bends the knee, opens the Bible, sustains a hallelujah when the body asks for the couch. And it is more: it is an instrument of victory against the world. The victory that overcomes the world is this: our faith.

It must remain.

Jesus did not ask the Father to take us out of the world, but to deliver us from evil. I walk under this prayer. There are angels around, keeping our feet from stumbling. Still, fiery darts fly. That is why Jude calls us to diligent fight for faith, and Paul points us to the desired end: fight the good fight, finish the race, keep the faith. The goal is not to arrive unscathed; it is to arrive believing. And to worship along the way, as the Syrophoenician woman worshiped amid the denial.

I know about the pebble that oppresses you. If God removes it, you will give glory; if not, keep giving glory. This is the heart that keeps faith. Say with me: in the name of Jesus, faith will remain in me. Remain a worshiper. Take a step of faith today: ask for help, pray, confess, lift your hands. The faith that came by hearing will keep you standing until God's amen over your story. And when the Son of Man returns, may He find faith in you.