A far-reaching study comes to the conclusion that in Switzerland, more and more people distance themselves from the Christian religion. In the early 1970s, 90 percent of the Swiss population was divided equally between the Reformed and the Catholic Church. Today, only 32 percent are still Reformed, and 31 percent Catholic. In other nations the same trend can be confirmed, especially in Germany. The confession of Christianity continues to lose ground. IdeaSpektrum quotes the Preussische Allgemeine Zeitung: “The missions command of Jesus is changed into its opposite. The failure of the two large denominations is shocking.” In the Netherlands, the number of churchgoers within the last 30 years has diminished by more than half. While 50 percent of the population still regularly attended a church service in 1966, this number sank to 21 percent in 1999. Of course, the nominal Christians are included in these statistics.

Nevertheless, the serious question arises: what about the true Christians? Not long ago, I visited once again the village of Urk in the Netherlands, which is traditionally Christian. About ten years ago, this place was worth seeing because one could sense that many true Christians were living here. Today, it is no longer so. The ways of the world have expanded and taken over. The influence of a once strong Christian presence seems to have lost ground. Where are the truly believing Christians? Where are the God-fearing people?

This was also what Elijah might have asked himself when he resignedly fled from Jezebel. Elijah’s fear for his life and his despair about the spiritual condition of his people (he thought he was the only one who still believed in God) went so far that he lay down under a juniper tree in the desert, wanting to die (cf. 1 Kings 19:4, 10). But God had other plans. Twice, the Angel of the Lord appeared and commanded him to get up and to eat, that is, to strengthen himself for going further. Finally, God showed him that he was not alone: “Yet have I left me seven thousand in Israel, that is, all who have not bowed their knees to Baal, and whose mouth has not kissed him!” (1 Kings 19:18).

It is a fact that much of the Church is in retreat. It is all the more important for those who believe in Jesus Christ to occupy a position and not give up. In John 6, Jesus speaks earnestly about the relation of His own to Him and to God the Father. By the signs and wonders which He did, He already had His followers. But Jesus knew very well who truly believed in Him. He declared that He is the only way to the Father. Yet most of His disciples did not want to receive this and distanced themselves, “From that time on many of His disciples went away and walked no longer with Him” (verse 66). Finally, Jesus asks, probably with sadness, the Twelve: “Will you also go away?”

Following Jesus is not a stroll. Often, we are led into situations where resignation wants to take over. There, it is supremely important to keep one’s final goal in sight and to look upon Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Then, the Lord Himself will lead us out of these depths again. Just as in the case of Elijah, so He will also act toward us. In 2 Chronicles 16:9, we read that the eyes of the Lord are seeking us and He wants to prove Himself powerful with us.  After His Resurrection, Jesus asked the two disciples, “What have you been talking about on the way, and why are you so sad?” (Luke 24:17). He is asking you today, “Will you also go away?”