Perseverance
Perhaps no one miracle performed by our Lord Jesus has been more commemorated than this one, found in the gospel of Mark, chapter ten:
Try to visualize that surging mass of people, many of them attempting to silence this poor, wretched, and blind man, who had dropped his beggar's cup and was yelling to the top of his voice, "Thou son of David, have mercy on me!" Despite the confusion, and above the command from the disturbed crowd for him to keep silent, blind Bartimaeus, who had for sometime, no doubt, been waiting with accumulated interest for Jesus to pass his way, kept shouting, "Thou son of David, have mercy on me!" His was a cry of faith and unremitting confidence - and could not be subdued by that vast crowd, who needed no restoration of sight nor deliverance from beggary. The One who "went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed by the devil" heard this sightless, impoverished man, and then "commanded that he should be brought unto him." We notice that after failing to silence this poor man's cry, these same men, who were following Jesus, were commanded to call the beggar. In fact, they even encouraged him by saying, "Be of good comfort. Rise! He calleth thee." Blind Bartimaeus knew what he wanted and was determined to obtain it - and to obtain it now - while the great Healer was passing out of Jericho. By the way, this proved to be Jesus's last journey through, for he went on up to Jerusalem, where he was crucified. As a consequence of the needy man's perseverance, "immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way." May God help us, my friend, to receive faith and courage as we see the steadfastness and persistence of this dejected, blind beggar, whose act of refusing to be silent was succeeded by a state of glory and restoration of sight. This same glory and deliverance may be yours, beloved, regardless of your case; that is, if you will follow this blind man's example of perseverance, in spite of opposition. Isn't it wonderful to know that the same Jesus who once stood in the suburbs of Jericho and called blind Bartimaeus is available today to all who will not be denied! Surely we have the same privilege to call upon this great Healer, who is "the same yesterday, today, and forever." Regardless of how we may be harassed by the constant pressures of the multitudes, our Lord's invitation still stands, and his pointed question of two thousand years ago to a blind pauper remains the same for us: "What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?" The unceasing babble of unbelieving voices will not stop the desperate soul. On the contrary, we can be and should be made more determined by such opposition. When we are harassed by the constraining forces of those who believe that the days of miracles are long passed, we must look up at "the right hand of God" and see Christ standing at the mediatorial throne, making intercession for his people by having their bodies healed and their sins forgiven. Jesus is not only able to heal today, but he is anxious to heal every one who has the faith to be inflexible toward his offer. Think of how Jacob wrestled with an angel until the breaking of day. He refused to let the angel go until he had received the desired blessing. The angel even changed Jacob's name to Israel, saying, "As a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed." There are many thrilling stories which exemplify perseverance in the Scriptures. Before he could win the battle, think how Michael, the archangel, had to contend with the devil over the body of Moses (Jude 9). Back in the wilderness, it was Moses's perseverance that prevented God from destroying the whole house of Israel. We read of how he stood up and contended, even with God, by saying, "O Lord God, destroy not thy people!" And the Lord hearkened unto him, we are told in Deuteronomy 9:19. My dear reader, many today have lost the fire of the holy Ghost, the soul's anchor in heaven. They have become luke-warm, and are close to being "spewed out" of the mouth of God. They hardly know any longer what perseverance in the Word of God means. Nevertheless, the Psalmist encourages every obedient believer by saying, "Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the Law of the Lord. Blessed are they that keep His testimonies, and that seek Him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity; they walk in His ways" (Ps.119:1-3). We must never forget that "He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him" (Heb.11:6). Moses furthers this thought by telling us that "If thou seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find Him, if thou seek Him with all thy heart and with all thy soul" (Deut.4:29). What a challenge! And what a promise! Long before the birth of Jesus, Isaiah envisioned his advent and death, and prophesied, "He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed" (Isa.53:5). Jesus's parable of the importunate widow (Lk.18:1-8) teaches us that if one comes to God seeking anything, one must be sincere and in earnest. In other words, he must seek as the blind beggar did, diligently and steadfastly until the answer comes - and it will come! Consider these encouraging words of Jesus to all who are seeking the truth of God: "Every one that asketh receiveth, and every one that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, if his son ask for bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?" (Matt.7:8-11). Amen!
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