Prof. Biju Issac

I have been asked by the young teenage friends in Madras Christian College about the various teenage problems that they face, despite their longing to live for God. I want to address to that desperate crowd, who want a way out of their defeats.

Firstly, we need to understand that the Gospel of Christ Jesus is to liberate us and make us happy. If you want to experience the highest degree of joy and peace, try Jesus if you have never tried Him! The happiness that you receive from the world will not even make a comparison to the liberation and joy that you experience under the Lordship of Jesus. Satan always portrays the commitment to God as a burden and a disinteresting prospective. That’s a big lie to the first place! You see, Satan offers “quick, temporal and superficial” happiness through illicit sex, smoking, alcoholism, drugs, pornography, immoral thoughts, blue movies.. and the like, when God offers “permanent, deep and eternal” joy through His son Jesus Christ. Like the costly 500 rupee notes that are counterfeited to perfection by the manipulators, Satan too succeeds in getting young people hooked onto some evil habits, with his counterfeit “happiness”.

If you look at a pig, you understand that its nature is to wallow in the mire and to enjoy it. Even if you bathe a swine to clean it, its nature will urge it to jump into the nearest mud-hole it can find. We are all born with that pig-like nature, in relation to sin. We all enjoy wallowing in the mire of sin for its momentary and passing pleasures. Yet, God had mercy on us and has provided a way out, so that our nature itself can be changed. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away and everything has become new!” (2 Cor. 5:17).

So, if I tell you a good news, will you be excited? Here it is: “No matter how much you have messed up your life and have sunk deep, God can change your nature and make everything new in you.”

This is the gospel - a work of God’s ,miracle in one’s life! During the life of Jesus, as He was on His way to Jairus’ house, to heal his daughter, amidst the great multitude there was a woman who had the “flow of blood” (hemorrhage) for 12 years. She had spent all her livelihood on medicine to get cured. But with no result. Now she heard that Jesus is going that way and pushing the way through, she tried to reach Jesus. But the crowd was severe. She finally succeeded in touching the hem of Jesus’ garments , believing that she will be made well, if only she touched Him personally. Suddenly Jesus responded: “Who touched me?”. Peter and the other disciples retorted, “Master it doesn’t make any sense that you say - Who touched me?, when multitudes throng from all sides.” Little did Peter know about the “touch of faith”. Jesus replied again: “Somebody touched me, for I perceive power going out from me”. This woman was then found totally healed. (Luke :8:40-48). What do we learn from this incident? • Only a desperate person who wants a way out can be liberated. • Only a “personal touch” of faith can free a person. Not everyone who rubbed against Jesus was liberated, but only one woman.

• Only when we come to an end of ourselves (or to be at our wit’s end!) and we turn to Christ Jesus in faith, can there be liberty. Our self-struggle to improve ourselves (our behaviour) can be a great hindrance. This woman was in self struggle for 12 long years, spending all her money for cure till she came to Jesus. • Only when we expect the “impossible” (miracle) to happen, a miracle does happen, which turns our life around for the better. Jesus said: “With men it is impossible but with God all things are possible”. (Matt. 19:26)

We also read of another interesting episode of a poor blind beggar named Bartimaeus. He heard about the coming of Jesus from Jericho. This man was so desperate about being blind all his life that he wanted a way out. So he expected the impossible - a miracle! He cried out in agony: “Jesus, son of David have mercy on me!” But the crowd was rude and many warned him to be quiet! But he wouldn’t give in to their suppressing and unbelieving shouts. For he was not willing to accept that defeated position of being blind as normal. All the more he started crying out: “Son of David, have mercy on me!” We read these amazing words in Scripture - “So Jesus stood still”. A cry of desperation mingled with faith always “stills” God. At the call of Jesus, Bartimaeus threw aside his garment (with all the savings he had!) in his excitement to meet Jesus. Does the call of God excite you to such an extent, that you count all the other valuable possessions only fit to be thrown away, dear friend? Jesus specifically asked him: “What do you want me to do for you?”. As he tells his need for sight, the sight was restored (Mark. 10:46-52). What do we learn from this episode? Only a person, who is placing himself at the sheer mercy of God, can find a way out. If you feel that you deserve a blessing from God for some reason, you are not really fit to receive a blessing.

Only a desperate person who swims against the tide of discouraging “crowd” (majority), finds a way out. Many folks give in to the fatalistic remarks of the majority around them, and accept the defeated condition as a fate. But Bartimaeus was quite different! Only when we expect great things from God and refuse to give in to human logic, a miracle does happen.

Only when we are specific about our need, do the results come.

Dear reader, do you long for a way out of defeat? Acknowledge your true state before God honestly and accept all your hang-ups. Confess all your sins to Christ Jesus. In desperation, invite Him by faith into your life. Make Him the only master of your life. Decide to be at peace with everyone. Let this world and its evil attractions have no power over you.

Jesus said - “Behold, I stand at the door and knock, If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him’ (Rev. 3:20). Our refusal to the call of God, is the real problem. Dear friend, open yourselves up to His call. He can run your life better, than you barely trying to find a way out! Make an absolute surrender of your life to Him and expect a way out and you certainly will!

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