Evening journal., 1916-02-10


does not care how many secret res
olutions you make. as long as you
don't let your purpose be known.
That Is one reason why Jesus 50
strongly insists on a public confes-
sion. upon the part Of every believer
in Him.
] remember In meeting one even
ing noticing young man. who was
accompanied by two young women,
one sitting on either side. During
the sermon he leaned forward in his
eager desire 10 catch every sentence
Of the sermon. but these two girls
constantly tried % distract his atten-
ton, by whispering and laughing
When the invitation was given, he
putup his hand. and one Of the girls
caught hold Of his arm and pulled
II down. and when he started 10 step
out into the aisle and come 70 the
front, they took hold Of his coat to
hold him back. but in spite Of their
opposition nc walked out manfully
that night and gained glorious vic
tory.
You will note the words Of this
blind man and the spirit in which he
called 10 Jesus. He did not ask for
iustice-he asked for mercy. There
Is no call that 80 quickly arrests the
attention Of Christ as the plea for
mercy. We do not want justice II
we had our deserts. all OF us would
have been lost long ago. When you
come 10 Jesus. do not plead your
al IsfN
Now We are told that Jesus stop
ped. If you call on Him. tonight He
will near you too. He never turned
away from any needy soul DO not
begin TO tell OF your goodness and
liberality. That Is merely to bolster
mp your SHORTCOMINGS You are not
saved on account Of your goodness,
but on account Of Gods goodness.
Your hope rs not on account Of what
you have done or can do for God but
rather on account Of what He has al
ready done for you. Now when Jesus
bids this blind man come TO Him. the
very same crowd who a little while
before had been telling him 10 keep
quiet. that he did not belong to the
bOntOn or the smart set. that he did
not have big bank account. he was
not a member OF the social aristoc-
racy but now when Jesus bids him
come. they urge him to 60 So II you
come out definitely taking a positive.
aggressive stand, tho very people who
otherwise would ridicule you. Will
cease their opposition and will com
mend your courage II is like grab
bng a thistle. n you touch It lightly
Iit viii prick. but il you seize it with
a firm hold you feel no pain. The
best way to silence opposition is by
eainestness and decision
Now Bartimous springs to his feet
and starts toward Jesus. But first he
throws aside his old cloak. That was
a good thing to beg in. but poor
thing to come 10 Jesus in. II might
have proved "A hlndrance. handi-
cap. weight. You must lay aside
the robe of your own self-righteous-
ness, your preconceived opinions. your
prejudice, your pride. your timidity.
your fear. your evil habits and your
stubbginness. II you arc going TO
reach Jesus, lay aside every weight.
as Jwell as your hesetting sin. II you
are TO meet Jesus you must mean bus
mess. He Is saying to himself. Sup
posing | start and then stumble and
fall. what then2" Well. IL you do.
Bartlmous. get mp and go on again
4 Nothing risked. nothing gained. You
never VIII get there unless you start.
"But what will people say? ! fear
somebody Will ridlcule me. What II
they do. The joy Of sight restored
will thousand fold countorbalance
all their ioers Some will say. Even
n he does get 70 Jesus and have his
sight restored he may lose II again
Well, oven II you had your sight but
for a day. II is better than not to
have it al all.
So 1t is with you. my friend. you
have nothing to lose in coming to
Christ. but your sins. You are lost
now. and the Christ that can hEal
your blindness and give you sight.
can also keep Il restored You have
everything 20 gain. Supposing the
blind man had waited and said. 81
am not going to start 90 Jesus. until
] am absolutely sure that can get
there Well Bartimeus. how viii
YOU know whether YOU can get there
or not until you try? The Psalmist
well said Taste and see that the Lord
rs good" n you begin TO live the
life Of a Christian, II will not be long
before you have the faith OF a Chris
tian
"Supposing ! start to Jesus and get
lost and never reach Him" Well,
even In that case. you can be no
worse of than you are now. Ger
tainly you cannot expect blessing
without putting forth an effort. Bet
ter to try and fail. than not try at all.
But when you start toward Jesus, lie
Will meet you more than half way. lie
says. Him that cometh to Nc, will
m no wise cast out" On another
occasion Jesus said, Come and see"
Il is not see first and then come. Il
is come first and then see. He al
ways keeps His promises.
the thought also probably came to
him. II guess had better not go to
meet Jesus now. I will wait awhile
perhaps He may come along this Jer-
icho road some future time. Then l
will go to Him and get my sight" But
the fact was. Jesus never passed that
road again. II he had not been heal
ed then. the chances are he never
would have been healed Procrasti-
nation is one OF Satan's most effective
methods for keeping souls away from
God