As we crossed the border going from Mexico to Guatemala, all the passengers had to get off the bus and walk across the border. There were many young boys, possibly 10 or 12 years old, begging for money. Many of these young beggars followed the walking passengers. Since we were leaving Mexico, we were willing to give the Mexican coins we had in our pockets to the young beggar boys.
One little beggar complained to me about the small amount I gave him. Another actually cursed at one of us because he was not happy with the number of coins he was given. They continued to ask for more money, and some of them were very pushy about it. Besides the coins, we gave them Spanish pocket calendars that had gospel verses on them. One of the boys tore his calendar into very small pieces. These young beggars were very ungrateful.
I couldn’t help but think of the stories in the Bible about beggars, and they were not ungrateful. One of the beggars was named Lazarus. The Bible tells us in Luke 16 of his very sad life, lying at the gate of a rich man, with his body covered in sores. His food was mostly the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. The account also says that Lazarus died and was carried away by the angels to heaven. Lazarus passed out of this world where he had no comforts into a place of joy and happiness. He was not taken to heaven because he was a poor man and had such a bad life here in this world; he was taken there because he had faith in the living God.
Another beggar the Bible tells us about was not only poor; he was also blind. Mark 10 tells us his story: “Blind Bartimeus . . . sat by the highway side begging.” When he heard that Jesus was coming, he called out, “Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.” There were those who told him to keep quiet and not to bother Jesus. But Bartimeus believed that Jesus, as the Son of David, was his true King, and he had faith that Jesus could heal his blind eyes and give him sight. Bartimeus didn’t give up - he called louder. And our blessed Lord always answers faith with blessing. Bartimeus received his sight.
Boys and girls, we hope that if you have not yet believed in the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, you will learn from these two beggars the Bible tells us about. They could go to heaven because they had their sins forgiven by the Lord Jesus. If you will by faith believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins, He promises to forgive your sins. “We have redemption through [Jesus’] blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7). But if you neglect to put your trust in the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, you cannot go to heaven. The Lord Jesus said, “Ye . . . shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. . . . Ye shall die in your sins . . . if ye believe not that I am He” (John 8:21,24).
Remember the beggar boy who said our gift was too small? Instead of being grateful for what he received, he complained about the amount of the gift. For you who by faith have believed in the Lord Jesus as your Saviour and your sins are forgiven, are you grateful? Have you really thanked Him from the depths of your heart for saving your soul? His offer of salvation is an enormous gift and bought at a tremendous price! We should thank the Lord Jesus every day for dying on the cross for us. “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15).
ML-07/16/2000