Do we even begin to consider the treasures of Heaven that are loaned to us, while in this temporal place that we try to establish as our own? We search out the perfect community, that has the most potential for safety, accessibility, and comfort. We purchase our claim. We bring in the professional land surveyors, drive in the boundary stakes, set up elaborate fences and then boldly proclaim this mirage of a parcel is our own. We build a house on the sand, and stress the ever fading "curb appeal" to gain admiration from all that pass by. We garnish our possession with sheds, garages and vehicles that also state that we are "somebody".
How could we fail in a community called "The Place of Fragrance".
Nine long months of waiting ... Longing ... Dreaming... Living within the precious promises and love of their Father. Timaeus and his wife were expecting no less than God's best. For they had heard His voice, they had performed their vows, they had opened their hearts to the needy and downcast, and they were "all in" for God's plan ahead for their lives. As one in Him, and His purposes in heart... There was No turning back - they proclaimed "only blessings ahead!".
The day finally arrived ... The window of Heaven opened with the beautiful fragrance of eternity as Timaeus' wife labored intensely to deliver their bundle of Joy. Oh such a beautiful baby boy (at first glance)... But then the joy of the moment was interrupted by the sobbing of the midwife, for the little boy was marred ... He had no sight - HE WAS BLIND!.
In that moment of great disappointment ... All the choices for given names that were attached to parental dreams were no longer important; for who has great dreams for the blind and what namesake even begins to bring encouragement? So the boy was called the Bar(Son of)-Timaeus. And by this name, his father took the blame, and shouldered the proclaimed curse.
Oh, if only they had known the glory that was ahead for this blind boy without a real first name.
Oh, If only they had known of another little Boy that had been born about 18 miles away in a town known as the "House of Bread", who would bring to light the gift in store for this boy born blind.
Oh, If only they had known that this little Boy from the House of Bread would take on the curse via a greater curse - "death on the tree", and that He would lift the curse from their little blind boy and the curse of Sin from the world.
Although Bar-Timaeus could not see, the misty veil of physical blindness had not completely removed hope from his listening heart throughout the years of begging. He had heard and waited on the Lord, and today his heart would be overwhelmed. This was the day!
He heard the crowds murmuring at the purposeful steps of Jesus as he came through town. And Bar-Timaeus waited, as always, at the exit gate knowing just what he would say; ... Sensing Jesus was near: he cried out - "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Although his peers tried to squelch his crying, he just cried out the more ... "Oh, Son of David(the Beloved), have mercy on me!"
When Jesus stopped and called for him, the crowd stopped and changed their tone from a harsh "hush" to a helpful encouragement. Within the heart of this blind man there was absolutely no hesitation to come... he left his outer garment behind, potentially with no intentions of going back.
When asked what could be done for him... Reflexively he cried , "Lord, that I might receive my sight!" ... (Lord? There must have been a holy hush from the crowd in anticipation of what would transpire next, Lord?):In what ever delay was perceived, one thing was certain, Bartimaeus (Meaning Son of Timaeus ... No real first name), and his family now stood on the threshold of the blessing that was waiting in store at that intersection of faith. Here in that waiting and longing mode to be freed from the curse were the seeds of hope to be fulfilled. Jesus would call it Faith.
Mark 10:52 - "And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed (continued to follow) Jesus in the way."
Let's not spend our days under our own self proclaimed curse of life; Let's Open our eyes; and claim the Glory and the Power of the Gift of God's Grace on our situation. Whether we find ourselves in a life altering set back, a life long handicap, a broken relationship, an overwhelming hardship, a life threatening illness, a debilitating pain, or a deep depressing failure ... Let's not lose sight of the power of His Name. Call unto Jesus, the Son of God!
Living under the curse of our circumstances is like being a blind child in oppression, with no real first name! For there in no other Name under heaven, given among men, whereby we Must be saved ... That Name is Jesus.
Faith in His Name can make us Holy, Wholly, Whole in Him.
Praise His Name and Live!
HLFA,
Jeff