"There is a beautiful, magnificent, and expansive world before our spiritual eyes," says the back of this blessed book. Amen. Indeed, there is. After you receive the remission of your sins by believing in the gospel of the water and the Spirit, everything becomes lovely. In addition to looking towards the eternal world in heaven, your purpose here on earth is clear and you live to proclaim the gospel to every soul.
Mark chapter 10 tells the story of blind Bartimaeus, who asked the Lord for his sight rather than wealth, glory, or power.
"Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
Bartimaeus knew that Jesus was the Son of God who could heal his physical and spiritual infirmities. He shouted, "Son of David" because he believed the Lord would come from David`s line. With his faith, he was able to call out to the Lord and implore for mercy. Jesus replied, "Go your way; your faith has made you well. And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road"
(Mark 10:52).
Not only did Jesus hear Bartimaeus` call, but He replied with the words that we should all want to hear from the Lord, "Your faith has made you well."
How do we hear these Words today?
In the preface the author describes how one comes to be born again. It begins with the creation of the world, how we were deceived by Satan and as a result, came to stand against God because of our sins.
However, God having mercy on us, sent His only begotten Son to this world, who was born from the Virgin Mary, received our sins at His baptism by John the Baptist, carried those sins to the Cross and rose from the dead again. This Jesus, the Son of David, God Himself, has saved us perfectly.
In contrast to Bartimaeus` faith, the Pharisees, the religious leaders of the time, followed Jesus around with disbelief in their hearts hoping to snare Him in His ministry. But Jesus, who is God Himself, cannot sin. The Pharisees believed in their own traditions which had deviated from the Word of God. Jesus pointed out their hypocrisy and gave them the opportunity to repent.
"All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition"
(Mark 7:9).
In pointing out their sins and hypocrisy, the Pharisees should have heeded Jesus` warning, abandoned their customs, and followed Him. However, they continued to harass Jesus and His disciples wherever they went.
God`s Law exposes our sins and makes us realise our hell-bound state, allowing us to ask God for His mercy and be clothed in His righteousness. To avoid becoming hypocrites like the Pharisees, we must look to God’s unchanging Word to understand sin and receive the gospel into our hearts.
The final chapter of the book is titled "The Lord has need of you." Who can God use? Those who aren`t tied to this world. Blind Bartimaeus threw aside his garments and rose to meet the Lord. Nothing he owned was of value anymore. He`d met the Lord, and this was all that mattered.
Jesus told His disciples, "Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it" (Mark 11:2).
We can be the colt chosen by God to serve Him if we answer His call and are not tied to this world. Let us not make excuses to God, but instead say "yes" and follow Him when He calls us. Being used by God is a blessing and something to be proud of.
"Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,
Let not the mighty man glory in his might,
Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;
But let him who glories glory in this,
That he understands and knows Me,
That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgement, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight, says the Lord" (Jeremiah 9:23-24).
As I have loved this book, I believe you will too. May God bless your reading and believing in all of the FREE New Life Mission books on God`s gospel of the water and the Spirit. Amen.
