“And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” – Luke 18:7-8
Twenty-one years ago, I was sitting at the plaintiff’s table in Federal Court with two very capable attorneys from the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ). Legal counsel representing the City of Albuquerque sat stiffly on the other side of the room awaiting the judge’s entry. I had sued the City for the right to show the JESUS film about the life of Christ and to give out free Bibles at one of our taxpayer supported Senior Centers. I had been refused that opportunity by the city, citing separation of church and state. In my view, however, I believed that justice dictated that Christian groups be given the same rights as any other group to present their worldview in the public arena.
The Judge entered the room with the well known, “All rise,” announcement from the bailiff. I was nervous. Would we win? Would justice prevail? Well, not on that day. The District Judge ruled for my adversaries and a black cloud of disappointment permeated our side of the room. We had lost. The gloating city attorneys patted each other on the back as I silently left the courtroom.
“God, where are you in all of this? Isn’t our cause a just one? Haven’t we been praying? What do we do now? Are you going to let an inimical judge prevent senior citizens from hearing about the saving grace of Your Son?” As I drove home, one thought kept continually entering my mind – “Just keep praying.” I felt like God was saying to me, “It’s not over yet.” And it wasn’t!
Two weeks after the judge’s ruling that day, we filed an appeal and in May of 1996, almost two full years after my original complaint, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the judge’s decision by a unanimous vote. A ruling was handed down that every tax supported Senior Center in Albuquerque and in all seven states covered by the Appeals Court’s jurisdiction, must open their doors to the gospel message of Jesus Christ without hindrance from that day forward. An emergency appeal by the city to the U. S. Supreme Court (Justice Stephen Breyer) was also denied. That single case now serves as a precedent for all 50 states and thousands have heard the Gospel as a result!
My friends, do you have just causes that you have laid before the throne of Christ? Are you still praying for them? Do you still believe that He will bring justice in a way that will bring glory and honor to Him? God’s hallowed halls of justice are lined with the faithful prayers of His people. Are you one of them? Will Jesus find this kind of faith in you and me when He comes?
Remember that we are told to “Pray without ceasing” (2 Thessalonians 5:17); “To ask, seek and knock” (Matthew 7:7-11); “Devote yourselves to prayer” (Colossians 4:2); and“With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:18), because our God is always listening and working in behalf of His people (John 5:17).
Maranatha!
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