Faith and Other Matters of Eternity

In Luke 18, Jesus tells the parable of the Persistent Widow..  At the end of this parable Jesus asks a startling question. "when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

This ending captured my attention today, knowing I have read this numerous times! I thought about us Western Christians as compared to Christians around the world.  Many of our brothers and sisters are not concerned with the coffee ministry, bowling leagues, basketball, etc. They have much more immediate concerns; concerns like eating enough and not being throw in prison or killed for their profession of Jesus Christ as Lord. 

So, what was Jesus thinking? Was he thinking aloud regarding what he will encounter when he returns?  Perhaps Jesus was acknowledging that we live in great difficulty here on earth; and a greater time of hardship is coming before his return.  His main point is that God hears and will respond to our prayers; scripture tells us that many will fall away during the end and return of Jesus. 

“The really vital question is not whether God will respond to prayer, but whether there will be faithful people who have persisted in prayer and not lost hope when the Son of Man comes. The parable is essentially an encouragement to continue in prayer without losing heart right through the difficult times of waiting before the Son of Man comes.^[1]”

So, will you be found faithful if Jesus came today or tomorrow etc.? Strengthen your faith; find a church where you are learning and growing closer to Jesus.  Jesus has a church for everybody. Find out where he wants you and then support it with all the gifts the Holy Spirit has blessed you with.

Peter Mueller is a graduate of Liberty University, with 10 years of ministry experience in small groups, family and church planting. He and his family currently reside in the Cincinnati Ohio Area.

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^[1] D. A. Carson, New Bible Commentary : 21st Century Edition, 4th ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill., USA: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), Lk 18:1–8.

In God's Waiting Room

Up until recently, I had only been unemployed 2 weeks in the last 32 years; that record is now being challenged. Couple of nights ago, my mother-in-law (aka Mom) recalled being told once "you are in God's waiting room."  

In deed I am waiting and searching God's word waiting for whatever God has purposed us for next in Kingdom work.  I have never been good at waiting, or patience regarding things getting done that i wanted to have done.. Perhaps indeed our family is in "God's waiting room" and I have to confess I don't like it.  When I don't like something happening in my life I seek out God's wisdom in his word; or he sends it through my beautiful bride to speak to me.  Here are some words of truth regarding waiting on the Lord.

Psalm 40:1-3

1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.

Isaiah 40:27-31

27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel,
“My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God”?
28 Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.


Find a great church community this week and worship this God that is everlasting!!!


Peter Mueller is a graduate of Liberty University, with 10 years of ministry experience in small groups, family and church planting. He and his family currently reside in the Cincinnati Ohio Area.