He Calleth Thee by A. M. Driscaill

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 4, 1873

He Calleth Thee.

By A. M. Driscaill

As poor, blind, and dejected Bartimeus sat by the wayside, feeling weary of the life that to him had been midnight darkness, weary of groping through the gloom of a long, unbroken night, weary of the daily routine of asking those who passed for a little of their abundance, weary of being repulsed and sadly neglected, what words could have been chosen better calculated to inspire hope and courage in the sinking mind than these, which were spoken to him in reference to Jesus of Nazareth who was passing by, “Be of good comfort, he calleth thee.”

He calleth thee, Bartimeus, just as thou art, poor, blind, and miserable. He invites thee to come with all thy poverty, with all thy blindness and depravity.

And was the gracious invitation accepted? Oh! see how quickly he arises, and throwing aside his garment (a particular style of an outside garment worn by those in his condition), he hastens to the Saviour, and falling at his feet, he cries, “Thou Son of David, have mercy upon me.”

He whose ears are never deaf to the prayers of the penitent, looked with pity upon the pleading beggar, and tenderly inquired, “What wilt thou that I do unto thee?” The suppliant replies, “Lord, that I might receive my sight.”

This was the burden of the heart—the one petition. How few the words to express it! No far-fetched phrases here, no studied speech, but the simple language of the heart. Jesus approves. The petition is granted. The blind man receives his sight and follows “Jesus in the way.”

Eighteen hundred years have elapsed since these words were first uttered, yet still in tones of unaltered and unchanged affection, we hear their echo, He calleth thee.

He calleth us, even us, to put away our sins as quickly as did Bartimeus lay aside his cumbrous garment. He calleth us to anoint our eyes that we may see our spiritual blindness before Jesus of Nazareth will pass forever by, and the golden opportunity for repentance be irretrievably lost. The invitation is still open, and all who will may come to the fountain of life and light.

He calleth the weary and heavy-laden to come unto him and find rest. He calleth upon those whose life-work is nearly done, whose tottering steps have reached the verge of the tomb, to lean upon him for strength and support. He calleth upon those in the prime of life, in the vigor of manhood, to be strong in him. He calleth upon the young, in mild and gentle accents, “Son, give me thy heart;” follow me, and I will lead thee beside still waters and into green pastures. He calleth upon all to work for him, and there is work enough for all to do. The fields are white, the harvest waiting, and where are the reapers?

“There is work to do for Jesus, Yes, a glorious work to do, For a harvest fully ripened Rich and golden lies in view; With a prayer to God our Father, Let us all the work pursue, For our risen Lord is calling, And the harvesters are few.”

A. M. Driscaill.

Battle Creek, Mich.