Natural faith syndrome
“Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Lk. 18:8 NKJ).
Faith mimics (or fake faith) might appear as faith, but are truly not faith. Jesus asked if true faith will be found on the earth upon His return. This does not suppose that true faith will somehow diminish, because true faith is rapidly increasing among God’s people as the Spirit prepares the Bride for the return of Christ. Jesus asked the question in part to raise our awareness of the challenges that we will be facing with faith in the end times.
One of these faith mimics of the end times is what I have called “natural faith.” Although it is not really faith to begin with, the phrase well illustrates the point. Natural faith is trusting in natural abilities and possibilities rather than in God. We might think we are trusting God, whereas in reality, our true confidence is in the natural possibilities that exist. How do you know? That kind of faith crumbles as soon as the natural possibility is gone. An example is someone who seems to be so firm in their faith for healing while the doctors say there are still some medical treatments. The day the doctors say there are no more treatments available, their faith vanishes and they are overcome with fear and anxiety. It might have appeared initially as though they had faith in God, but their faith was truly in the natural possibilities of medicine and not in God. True faith will continue thanking God for the healing irrespective of the natural possibilities of a cure. True faith comes by the Word of God. Meditate on the Word.
MEDITATE
Can you list a few reasons why the twenty-first century Christian will have some challenges believing God?
APPLY THE WORD
Is your faith based on natural circumstances? Is there something you stopped doing for God because natural circumstances changed? Ignite real faith today and start trusting in God and not in natural possibilities.
PRAY
Ask the Lord to help you stay away from natural faith.
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