It's a
miracle, we say...
when a couple we know,
who waited long, fall pregnant;
when someone with
terminal illness is healed, completely;
when we enjoy our
chapel, unexpectedly afforded and built by an initially very small congregation
of less than 60 members;
when our congregation grows unexplainably;
when an addicted person
is rehabilitated;
when our prayers are miraculously
answered again, and again;
when our children are
safe from drugs and promiscuity;
when our young adults
and young couples flock to church and insist on having more responsibilities and
work for the Lord;
when we leave church
on Sundays spiritually nourished and quenched by Word and Sacrament;
when we see how we and
our fellow Christians are growing in the Lord;
when the preaching and
teaching of the Word of God, is the word of God.
Yes, we
are a sophisticated and educated bunch in our congregation. World class
scientists and technologists joined our community. Well educated and blessed men
and women with responsible work in business, labour and government share the
fellowship of hard working fellow Christians.
We know
we have to work hard and live wisely, even though we depend on the Lord’s
provision.
The couple
who are pregnant now, did see a medical specialist and the lady cured from
cancer did receive chemo therapy. The building was funded because God’s
children were generous and passionate about the project. The rehabilitated alcoholic
and drug addict went to a Christian rehab centre and we do our best to warn our
kids against drugs and promiscuity. We
made our young adults feel welcome and taught them to excel in God’s work. We work hard at Biblical, expository
preaching and teaching and encourage one another to participate in learning and
growing in God’s Word.
So, why
do we thank the Lord for miracles if we did our best and worked hard to
accomplish this, even as we are looking with great interest for guidance in the
Scriptures? Is it not our clever and
hard working ways that caused the wonderful outcomes? Yet we do with much passion thank God on
Sundays and on any occasion of prayer and praise, for his miraculous wonders in
our lives.
Yes, we use
the word miracle to describe a whole range of wonders, from the gains of
science and technology to the awe-inspiring “mystery”, to our downright
amazement, when we see our children's growth and development and prosperity.
We do well
when we always begin with the Bible and look there for the answer to our
question: Are these things miracles,
signs and wonders - or simply scientifically explainable events?
Well,
the Scriptures are full of amazing events where God is portrayed as working
supernaturally in human history and as personally involved with the details of
the lives of his people. The Bible is completely clear in displaying God’s providential
power in both ordinary and extraordinary ways.
The God
of creation made the world and still commands the forces of nature. That is not
only a natural phenomenon but also clearly a super natural divine intervention.
The God
of Abraham and Sarah, of Isaac and Jacob guided and provided in answering their
prayers in surprisingly, inconceivable ways.
The God
of Moses appeared in a burning bush, in fire and smoke, parted the waters, and
provided manna and quail and water for his people in the wilderness.
The God
of the prophets spoke through them and comforted, challenged and rebuked God’s
people – at times demonstrating a power that incurred holy fear.
The
gospels also tell of the healing and deliverance miracles of Jesus and of the
greatest miracle and mystery ever experienced by mankind –the virgin birth, conquering
death and glorious resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
The
risen Christ poured out the Spirit on his Church, he appeared to the apostle Paul
and the Bible tells us of God's mighty acts in the days of the apostles and the
first Church.
As
Presbyterians we, since the time of the reformation, viewed every experience of
life as a whole as reminding us of God's creative presence and providence: as sacramental,
miraculous and a mystery. The reformers
taught us to look for the miraculous in the created order, in every way that
God provides for our health, our safety, our wellness – and most all providing the
miracle of having faith in the Son, of receiving salvation and of living in the
power of the Spirit, which is the power of the resurrected Saviour.
In our
age we experience both the incredible accomplishments of science and a new
hunger for an experience of the supernatural, the spiritual, and of the divine
love, power and might of God. We
continue, as reforming Christians and as Presbyterians, to believe in the power
of prayer and we believe God can and does work in both natural and supernatural
ways every day.
In fact,
we actually believe that what is natural, or accomplished through science and
technology, through medicine, hard work, careful wisdom and prudent living are
only possible through divine creativity, God’s unexplained work and provision
in every aspect of our lives. We believe that both science and human
accomplishment through hard work, are part of God's providence for us and in us.
If we
believe that God by his grace and mercy and through our faith provides for our
eternal salvation, we also believe in and know his presence with us in every
facet of life, in suffering and amidst challenges and pain.
We
believe that nothing is impossible with God.
That the same God whom we praise for the forgiveness of our sins, and
for receiving the very treasures of heaven through the mystery of feasting on
Christ and his love, that the same God will now, till the end and at the end, care
for us in every aspect of life, as he provides through the natural gifts the
supernatural wonders, and through the super natural wonders, grants us daily,
natural experiences of life, his love and his mercy.
Nothing
is impossible with God and everything is possible with God.
Through
Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord and his grace and his work through the Sprit –
our God reigns and our God provides according to his divine wisdom, will and
love.
He naturally
provides mysteriously and miraculously!
Soli Deo
Gloria!
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