Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:8 (NIV)
Information infiltrates our brains via the five senses. Personalities made up of emotion and willpower take shape around sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. These same senses enable our souls to acknowledge our Maker. God created us to experience His presence.
Made in the image of God, our souls are precious to Him from conception through eternity. As we walk the earth, our Creator yearns for us to know Him personally. In spite of His desire to develop relationships with His creation, God has granted us choice. He waits for us to decide.
It’s human nature not to be convinced of truth until we’ve witnessed it—we think we must see to believe. But what if we’re blind? It’s challenging to live without any of our senses; however, blindness means living in a dark world without the beauty of nature or the vision of family and friends. With no perception of surroundings, movement becomes limited. Maybe that’s the reason Scripture contains several stories of blind beggars. We can visualize their helplessness.
Reading the story of blind Bartimaeus in the tenth chapter of Mark triggers our senses. We see him sitting on the roadside begging. We hear him constantly cry for help. His pleas may activate compassion within us. His stench likely reaches our noses.
When Jesus walked near him, Bartimaeus cried, “Have mercy on me, Son of David.”
Many people scolded him for bothering Jesus, but he pleaded all the more. Jesus stopped and commissioned his disciples to summon the blind man. Once they called out to him, Bartimaeus jumped to his feet and made his way to Jesus. Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”
The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”
“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” (verses 46-52)
Bartimaeus suddenly gained his eyesight—his darkness became light. He responded with gratitude by following the One who had healed him. He dwelt near the presence of His Savior. He experienced the goodness of the Lord.
But what about us today? We can’t see Jesus or physically follow Him. Maybe modern ideology has blinded us to ancient truths. Possibly we’re entrenched in a culture of concession to the whims of change. Perhaps we belong to churches assimilated with society. How can we know if the Lord is good? Can we experience His presence? Is it possible to walk by faith, not sight?
I’ll never forget the day I profoundly experienced God’s presence through daily devotions and prayer. I sat on my bed while my two-year-old napped in the room next to mine. Rest and quiet time were essential for me due to my overactive toddler.
I had agonized all morning over the news of the day. An American embassy had been bombed in Beirut, Lebanon. Peacekeepers and soldiers alike had been killed. Stunned by the news, I sat and cried for all those affected. My mother’s heart broke over the thoughts of losing a child. Why, Lord, why do bad things happen?
I picked up my daily devotional, looking for answers. Since I had missed a few days, I decided to start reading where I had left off. Although I thought I needed to read through to catch up to the current day, God in His perfect timing, knew otherwise. He answered me from the first message I read, beginning with the Scripture passage for that particular day.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles. Psalm 34:4-6
Astonished, surprised, and in complete wonder over God’s response through His Word, I cried some more. Not with sad tears, but happy ones! Tears of joy! I felt the gracious love of a caring God. He had heard my cries and answered me. He had filled me with His peace.
With renewed faith and devotion, I heeded Scripture as never before. My spiritual eyes had been opened to the goodness of the Lord. I had tasted and seen. Gratitude to Jesus poured from my lips.
By seeking answers from God, I gained knowledge of His tenderheartedness. His words tasted sweet as honey. His promises unveiled my eyes. I encountered and felt His love.
Bartimaeus surely experienced the same revelation, but in a most extreme way. With opened eyes, He came face to face with Jesus. Imagine that intense encounter. Can you envision the expressions of amazement from those who witnessed such a miracle? What a testament to the goodness of the Lord.
Has the spirit of this age blinded you to the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ? Are you sitting alone in a distressed state, consumed with worry? Does the uncertainty of your future fill you with fear?
Cry out to Jesus. Appeal to His compassionate nature. Entreat Him not to leave you. Then trust Him to open your senses to His glory. Through the revelation of His promises, you will taste and see how good Jesus Christ is. His presence will give you peace.
How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! Psalm 119:103 (NIV)
““Improve your vision by choosing GOD’S TRUTH over human wisdom, by refusing to bow to immediate impulses and demands, by noticing the flow of Gods’ voice, and by asking Him to help. He loves to give sight to the blind.”
~Chris Tiegreen”