Go Your Own Way

God gives every person the freedom to go their own way.  It's not just a refrain from a catchy Fleetwood Mac song, but a gift of God provided for every person who lives on this planet.  The way we live our lives has a clear correlation with where we are headed for eternity:  heaven or hell. Sorrow, pain, sickness, and death are all products of sin's presence in the world.  Adam's rebellion caused separation from God, and every human being save Jesus Christ who has walked in this world has contributed to the miserable consequences of it.  God is the only one who can set things right again, and this was clearly demonstrated in the life of Jesus Christ.

As Jesus left Jericho, there was a blind man named Bartimaeus who sat by the way, begging.  When he heard it was Jesus who passed by that way, he cried out with a loud voice "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"  The more people "shushed" him the louder he screamed for mercy from the Son of God, the Messiah promised by God to save His people from their sins.  Having heard his cries and knowing his heart, Jesus stopped and commanded blind Bartimaeus to be called.  Mark 10:50 says he cast away his garment, which is very significant.  Even as a busker opens his guitar case to collect donations, his garment was laid across his lap to collect alms he received.  Hearing Christ had called him, Bartimaeus immediately cast aside his covering, money, and comfort in exchange to respond to the call of Christ.

Mark 10:51-52 says, "So Jesus answered and said to him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" The blind man said to Him, "Rabboni, that I may receive my sight." ⁵² Then Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road."  Because Baritimaeus had placed his faith in Christ, Jesus healed the man.  Jesus simply said, "Go your way; your faith has made you well."  I imagine Bartimaeus had fanticised for years over what it would be like to see.  Having received his sight, Bartimaeus was free to do as he pleased and Jesus released him from any obligation.  But do you see where Bartimaues went?  He followed Jesus.  The way Jesus went became Bartimaeus' way.  Jesus is the Way, the Truth, the Life, and having received his sight Bartimaeus only cared to follow after His LORD and Saviour.

We don't read Bartimaeus ever went back for his coat or his alms:  in Christ he had discovered all he needed.  Despite his physical blindness, with eyes of faith he recognised Jesus as the Son of David, the promised Messiah.  Once his eyes were opened, he fixed them upon Jesus and followed Him wherever He went.  This is a beautiful picture for all those who have responded to the call of Christ through the Gospel.  We were blind beggars steeped in sin, yet Jesus has opened our eyes to see Him as the Light of the World.  We are free to go our own way.  Which way will you choose?  Many people were healed by Jesus, but not all of them were saved.  Faith in Jesus made Bartimaeus whole.  True faith in Christ results in a life where Christ's way becomes our way.  Christ's way is an exclusive way all who will be saved must choose for themselves:  the way of the cross, humility, dying to self, obedience to God, and serving others.  It is the way which leads to victory, power, and heavenly glory for eternity.  All other ways lead to death and eternal destruction in Hell.

Jesus said to His disciples in John 14:1-7:  "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. ² In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. ⁴ And where I go you know, and the way you know." ⁵ Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?" ⁶ Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. ⁷ "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him."