Recently I felt like God has put something on my heart. It was something that was big and it would require a lot of faith. When I first felt the Holy Spirit urge me to this task I said “Ok, I’ll pray about it.” I wanted to make sure I was making the right decision and that I had “actually” heard from him, even though I knew I had. So after praying about it I realized it was something I needed to do but I still tarried. And that is something God has really been challenging me on. If it is something I know he has called me to do then I should not tarry. I should come running at his call. And all this returns me to a passage in the Bible that I did a paper on in college. In Mark 10:46-52 Jesus has an encounter with a blind man.
46Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
48Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
49Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” 50Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
51“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.
The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”
52“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
What strikes me about this man is that he gives up everything he has to come after Jesus. The cloak of a blind man in those days would be equivalent to a can today or anything else a beggar uses to gather change. Bartimaeus throws aside his living, everything he has. This is a life we need to seek to emulate. When the Lord, Jesus Christ, calls we need to throw aside everything that will hinder us from coming after him. For me recently it was doubt of his provision and voice.
The 1 Kings 18:21 verse reminded me of this because I had to choose which would be God. I had to choose between God and my hesitancy. What is it for you? What is preventing you from running after his call right now? What do you need to throw aside? Which option will you choose?
Jon Varner
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