"A missionary-physician in one of China's hospitals cured a man of cataract. A few weeks later forty-eight blind men came to him from one of China's wilds, each holding a rope held in the hand of the man who had been cured. He had led them in this way, walking in a chain, 250 miles to the hospital, where nearly all were cured." What a moving sight must have been the great-souled and unselfish gratitude of the man who had been made to see, and the pathetic eagerness of those who were blind!
Are we amongst those who can say "Once I was blind, but now I see"? It were well for us to be rightly affected by this priceless boon. The multitudes may appear indifferent to their condition, but let not this discourage us, for many are fumbling blindly after light. It is out happy mission to tenderly and tirelessly seek them out.
The Chinaman, himself a witness to the skill of the physician, and full of gratitude for sight restored, would doubtless seek out his forty-eight friends one by one; and it is here that the test comes to us. Many would address the crowds if they could, who have neither heart nor energy to seek out the individual.
We have a striking example of the keenness and character of divinely given spiritual sight in the early chapters of the Acts. In chapter 1 Peter and the disciples beheld their victorious Lord ascend in a cloud of glory to His Father's throne.
In chapter 2 they lifted up their eyes upon the multitude and saw them fall, under the power of the truth, at the feet of Jesus, as the full ripe grain falls at the swing of the autumn sickle.
But the eyes that gazed with rapture upon the ascending Christ, and with glad triumph upon the first great victory of the gospel, were just as quick to see the poor lame beggar at the gate of the temple in chapter 3. And they were as ready to stop and proclaim the power of Jesus' name to this needy individual as they would have been to a thousand.
How well repaid were they for this care for the man, for "he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God" (vv. 8-9).
And not only so: they were brought in consequence before the rulers, who, "when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it" (chap. 4:13-14).
Yes, they had been with Jesus: it was in His presence that they had learnt the value of one soul; from Him they had received the tender compassion and the quick sight that looked out for the poor and needy. They followed Him, and, true to His word, they became skilful in the art of catching men.
God give to us fuller and clearer visions of His glory who has gone to the top, that our eyes may be more ready to see, and our hearts to meet, the need at the bottom.