As Long As I Can See Your Face. Rivers of Faith, Part 5
There were two of them, blind beggars, following him. They weren't discreet
about it either. They were screaming at the top of their lungs, "Have mercy on
us, Son of David!" (Matt 9:27 NIV).
How embarrassing! Everyone was staring at him, wondering what kind of trouble he
had created.
They had no sooner done so, then he went indoors. At least there wouldn't be
ruckus in the streets any longer! Good riddance!
That's when Jesus turned towards his pursuers and boldly asked them: "Do you
believe that I am able to do this?" (Matt 9:28 NIV)
Had I been them, I would have blanched. Do I, Rob Chaffart, really "believe"
that He is "able" to do the impossible?
But the two beggars answered immediately, and their voices were laden with
confidence: "Yes, Lord!" (Matt 9:28 NIV)
Their faith was astounding and Jesus answered them accordingly: "According to
your faith will it be done to you" (Matt 9:29 NIV)
Before anyone could say anything, the inevitable happened: "Their sight was
restored." (Matt 9:30 NIV)
Can you imagine being blind for years and all of a sudden having your sight
restored? What if the first thing you saw was Jesus' compassion-filled face? It
would change you forever!
It's no wonder these two perceived Jesus' warning to: "See that no one knows
about this." (Matt 9:30 NIV) as encouragement to do just the opposite! They
couldn't help but broadcast the love they had experienced! "They went out and
spread the news about him all over that region." (Matt 9:31 NIV)
The same thing was true with a 19 year old who faced death by burning. Joan of
Arc had been falsely accused of heresy by her enemy, and on that fatal day, May
30, 1431, she was tied to the stake.
Although she experienced the horrors of being burned alive, she died with
composure and bravery, as her eyes had been fixed on the cross she had asked two
clergy men to hold up in the air.
She is remembered all over the world. Even as far from France as Quebec, Canada,
there is a statue of her bravery erected in the middle of a park on the Plains
of Abraham, where the French were defeated by the British.
To tell you the truth, we can do anything when we have our eyes fixed on Jesus,
our Master and Saviour!
"Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study
how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed - that
exhilarating finish in and with God - he could put up with anything along the
way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right
alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that
story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That
will shoot adrenaline into your souls! (Heb 12:2-3 Message)
The problem is that more often than not we get distracted with matters that
don't really matter, and we forget what Jesus really looks like!
Rob Chaffart