8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, "Isn't this the same man who used to sit and beg?" 9 Some claimed that he was.
Others said, "No, he only looks like him."
But he himself insisted, "I am the man."
Let’s think about this for a minute Christian, what is our personal story of faith and are we faithful to tell it to others for Christ’s glory? We who once dwelled in the dominion of darkness and now delight in His marvelous light have something to share. Our testimonies being evidence or proof of what Jesus has done and continues to do in our lives – not only the starting point (our conversion) but the arrow that goes forth forward from that (our walk of faith). One never simply stands still in the faith walk or in life for that matter – we either are going forward or backward. God tells us through the prophet Jeremiah:
22 For when I brought your forefathers out of Egypt and spoke to them, I did not just give them commands about burnt offerings and sacrifices, 23 but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you. 24 But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward. Jer 7:22-24 (NIV)
God is ever at work within the lives of His children. We should, therefore, always be able to relate to anyone both the starting point as well as what is happening in the present regarding our faith.
15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)
The words to a hymn regarding the importance of telling our story to those God places in our spheres come to mind:
“We’ve a story to tell to the nations, That shall turn their hearts to the right, A story of truth and mercy, A story of peace and light, A story of peace and light. We’ve a song to be sung to the nations, That shall lift their hearts to the Lord, A song that shall conquer evil And shatter the spear and sword, And shatter the spear and sword. We’ve a message to give to the nations,
That the Lord who reigns up above Has sent us His Son to save us, And show us that God is love, And show us that God is love. We’ve a Savior to show to the nations, Who the path of sorrow has trod, That all of the world’s great peoples Might come to the truth of God, Might come to the truth of God. For the darkness shall turn to dawning, And the dawning to noonday bright; And Christ’s great kingdom shall come on earth, The kingdom of love and light.” H. Ernest Nichol
In light of all Jesus has done, Paul prays the following prayer for the brothers in Christ at Colosse – we should likewise be praying this for both our families and ourselves:
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Col 1:9-14 (NIV)
It is difficult to refute one’s own personal story no matter how bad a critic we may encounter. We are also the best ones to proclaim it – we who have lived it can describe what has happened to us with both passion and fervor. In our verses for today the crowds were so amazed by the miracle of restored sight that they were slow to believe. The blind was among the poorest and humblest class of people in the Jewish society. Not able to work for their support, those without sight were likely to come to poverty and be dependent upon charity as their only means of support. These neighbors had seen our blind beggar begging often. He would have been a very familiar sight to them - a permanent fixture so to speak - yet now they appear unsure of his true identity. Certainly this once blind beggar’s countenance had been changed and even his expressions with his now working eyes had kept the people who were most familiar with him from recognizing him.
“How much the expression of the face depends on the eyes.” Wolfgang Musculus
Yet all the while our protagonist continues to claim “I am the man”. Something miraculous had taken place in his life and he tells His story for God’s glory. What had happened to him was far beyond the ability of mere man – a glorious and wondrous work which far exceeded any human pittance in his cup and he was faithful to proclaim it.
“There is a signature of wisdom and power impressed on the works of God, which evidently distinguishes them from the feeble imitations of men. Not only the splendor of the sun, but the glimmering light of the glowworm proclaims His glory. John Newton