1049. His Earnestness

His Earnestness

"But he cried the more a great deal" (Mar_10:48).

1. Obstacles will hinder the indifferent, but they only seem to help the truly earnest unto God. The more the people urged Bartimaeus to keep still, the louder did he cry; the more they argued against his getting to the Lord, the stronger his determination grew.

2. Faith overcomes difficulties. "For by Thee have I run through a troop; by my God have I leaped over a wall" (2Sa_22:30).

(1) David overcame his difficulties. When Absalom had raised, what seemed to be a successful insurrection against his throne, David cried and said: "Arise, O Lord, save me, O my God;" and then, before the conflict had taken place, before the armies had met in deadly combat, David' cried: "Thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; Thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly." And with exultant faith he said, "I will not be afraid of ten thousands of the people that have set themselves against me round about" (Psa_3:7-8).

(2) Benaiah had his difficulties, but he conquered them. When everybody else sat warming their knees by the fire and trembling because of the roar of a lion which was filling the air, Benaiah went out, and leaping into the pit, where the lion roared, he slew him on that snowy day (see 1Ch_11:22).

(3) Zacchaeus overcame his difficulties. Little of stature, he sought the tree where he might view the Lord; and his perseverance brought him victory, for the Lord said: "Come down, Zacchaeus. Today I must abide at thy house."

And thus Bartimaeus joined with David, and Benaiah, and Zacchaeus, and the hosts of those enrolled as heroes of the faith who press past obstacles and get to God.

Will your courage fail, when the storms assail,

And temptations sweep around?

Will your faith hold fast, and your courage last

When the trials thick abound?

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR