“And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee” (Mark 10:49).
Most often, the last step is the winning step. It is always darkest just before dawn. Persistence and steadfast commitment to a cause will win the needed victory. There is so much discouragement and confusion around that Christians need to exhort one another to faithfulness as the day of Christ draws near. “Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18).
Blind Bartimaeus in our text had been in this depressing condition for quite a long time before the arrival of Jesus at Jericho. He suddenly heard about Jesus and determined to seize the golden opportunity to get rid of his problem. However, the more he cried, the farther the solution seemed to be, “but he cried the more, a great deal, thou son of David, have mercy on me.”
He cried until his plea got the attention of Jesus. At the end, he got the favour of God and the compliments of the people who had earlier stood in his way to receiving Christ’s attention.
The Bible enjoins us: “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry” (Hebrews 10:35-37).
The life of blind Bartimaeus naturally teaches the heaven-bound believers to endure till the end; keep the hope of eternal life close to his heart and guard it jealously; and show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope to the end.
As we continue in our Christian race, there may be discouragement from fellow pilgrims but we must daily remind ourselves that it is only those who endure and continue till the end that shall be saved. The Christian race is a battle of wits and nerves. Those who make up their minds to overcome every daunting odd are those who triumph ultimately.
Though for the day: The quitter never wins; the winner never quits.
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