Steps Of Faith

I have long held that you will live just as long as there is opportunity for you to reconcile with your Creator.  In the world's terms - when you have rejected God for the last time, you will draw your last breath.  Well, there are exceptions such as, you claim to be a Christian and are either giving Him a black eye or refusing to do as told - and you are out of here!  The first I know is because of my Hutterite discipleship and the following two are because I have witnessed this so many times it is no longer fascinating seeing God's hand move against someone!  As I have mentioned before, God has left one alive, as a very real witness to all whom know the story - black eyes, pride and all - yet God spared them death - and left us quaking (for real!).  When He chooses to move against someone, it is not pretty.  :(

In Mark 10:46-52, we are told about one whom chose to follow Jesus and there are some interesting things to take away from his act of faith:

We are introduced to a man named, Bartimaeus.  He is blind, sitting by the road, a cloak to catch coins at this feet or on his legs.  Reduced to begging, in order to live, he hears that Jesus that is coming and he begins to call out - all the while being told to shut up by those around him.  But, he has no realistic worldly hope, only death awaits him to ease his misery.

Listen
He must have heard of Jesus and what He could miraculously do.
He heard Jesus' call for him to come.
Faith comes by hearing, but you must be able to recognize the voice!
Conversely, He hears us and knows our voice.

Persist
Even though he was being told to shut up by the crowd, he refused.
Likewise, the world surrounds us and tells us to shut up - unfortunately too many listen to the world's instruction and not God's.
We are to persist, until the end!

Jump
Barimaeus responds to this unseen voice
Obviously someone helped him find Jesus, right in front of him.
He could have been silent, he could have not gone to Jesus, he could have continued in his blind state of misery.

Ask
Jesus: "What do you want me to do?"
Bartimaeus: "Restore my sight ... "

Jesus knew what was needed, He knew what was needed to be done, but He waits for us to ask Him - to formulate in our mind/heart/spirit a recognition of what is our state and our needs.

Unlike, Bartimaeus, I am often too stupid to even know that much!  But, luckily, God does give me hints - sometimes gently, sometimes painfully.  And then I can pray.

Receive
Jesus: "Go your way ..."

Jesus gave Bartimaeus his sight back and told him to go his way.
And Bartimaeus was able to see.

Imagine the joy which overcame him!  I can relate to being blinded, unfortunately.  I was working on a car with a friend and through a weird accident - he splashed parts solvent in my face!  He ran for the phone and called poison control to learn what we needed to do, took me to emergency - then as they worked on me, he went off to get the supplies they had told him he would need.  Unfortunately, it was Bible Study night and I had to teach with no vision what so ever!  Could not read the passage, the notes I had made, nor see anything or anyone!  It took many days for my sight to be restored - and I wished Jesus would like pop up at my door and just heal me!  But, He did it the hard way with me that time!  (Always wear safety goggles when working with any form of caustic liquid!)

Follow
And, as Jesus headed past Jericho for Jerusalem, Bartimaeus follows Jesus.
Well, he did not have much I assume in Jericho to go home to, if there was a home for him!

How far did he go?  Did he follow Jesus through the week and to the foot of the cross?  Entirely possible!  He did not seem to stick around, just like the disciples did not afterwards.

He had experienced a personal miracle ... no one would ever convince him that he had not been blind or by some trick he could now see.  He had been healed, he had walked with, he had listened to the words of this miracle worker.  Did he run back to Jerusalem when he heard that Jesus had been seen?  Was he amongst those for Pentecost or become a founding member of the new Way of Judaism (to be called Christian in later years)?

Now think back to the Rich Young Ruler.  He came, he asked, he listened - but he left saddened because his wealth meant more to him than what Jesus had to offer.  How did he react to Jesus' death and all that was to follow?

Conversely, Bartimaeus followed in joy.

And in some histories, there is talk of the Rabbis hunting down and killing those whom Jesus had cured - to silence their testimony.  Following can mean, to the grave, if necessary.  Something far too many Christians have had to do in the past decade alone ...  And this abomination of a christian church, today, has no response ... because it is not happening to us or those we know but to "those" "them" "they", whom are not us ....

Think on this dear readers.