SOME years ago, the writer of this little narrative was giving an address to the scholars of a small Sunday school in one of the suburbs of London, the subject being "Blind Bartimæus." Three things which occur in the incident especially were dwelt upon:—
“He heard... Jesus" (ver. 47).
“He came to JESUS" (ver. 50).
“He followed Jesus" (ver. 52).
At the close of the service it was evident that the Holy Spirit had been working during the meeting, and one of the scholars came to the speaker, crying bitterly and trembling as she said, "Oh, sir, I am so wicked, and don't love Jesus. Will He cast me out?" The child was convicted of sin; she knew that she was a sinner. It was pointed out to her that God says, "All have sinned," and also that the Lord accepts guilty sinners who come to Him, since He says, "Him that cometh to Me I will in nowise cast out.”
The earnestness of the blind beggar attracted the attention of Jesus, and Bartimæus, answering quickly to the Savior's call, soon found himself in the company of the sinner's Friend, and everlasting blessing resulted. And so with our little maiden: she obeyed the call of Jesus, came to Him, and could say:—
“I came to Jesus as I was,
Weary and worn and sad;
I found in Him a resting place,
And He has made me glad.”
Henceforth her desire was to follow the Savior as Bartimus did, to tell others of Him, and her delight was to bring others into the place where the Word of God was read and spoken of. The writer lost sight of her for some few years, but he constantly heard of her sweet testimony. Last year it pleased the Savior to take her home to be with Himself.
Say, children, have you found soul rest in Jesus? Come, yield yourselves to Him now ere the day of salvation closes, and you, too, will desire to follow Him, and shine for Him, as we so often sing:—
“Jesus bids us shine,
first of all for Him,
Well He sees and knows it,
if our light grow dim.
He looks down from heaven to see us shine,
You in your small corner, and I in mine.”
“He received his sight,
and
Followed Jesus in the way.”