The on line dictionary I use defines miracle as
1: an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs
2:an extremely outstanding or unusual event, thing, or accomplishment
In the last few weeks to months we have had the bombing of the Boston Marathon, two killer tornados in Oklahoma, scandals in Washington, and a whole world of never ending killings, needs, conflict and strife. Enough to make even the most joyous, optimistic person depressed.
Personally there has been some illness in my family but nothing serious. There is the car we can’t seem to find time to put into the shop, the never ending projects that get put off till the next weekend so that this week’s emergencies are dealt with. Around me though, I can’t tell you the number of people facing more difficult times. Some need a job or a better one, and there is the friend recently flighted to Wichita and an emergency stint put in his heart, returning home with damage to other organs. Another local acquaintance was diagnosed with cancer and given 6 month to a year life expectancy. There are plenty of others in my small community that are suffering from minor ailments to serious life threatening diseases, some with small gaps between needs and money and others who’s burdens look like the national debt, some I know personally others I just suppose.
My online community is not much different, if you look down the never ending posts, hidden beneath the smiling family pictures, the motivational posters, the sometimes crude humor there is an undertow of needs, pulling us down. There are the deals that fell through, illnesses that persist some life threatening, feelings that got hurt, misdeeds and mistreatment by and from those that should know better. There is a long list of troubles that pull at our feet just below the water line, making our lives unsure.
One of the often talked about things in my Sunday School class is the topic around why do bad things happen to good people, why are some not healed, why do some die young, why are some so rich and other so poor, why do some appear blessed? Why? I am sure we sound to God a lot like my grandchildren, “but why?” I look at my life and I know I am not smarter, more righteous, harder working or more precious yet my life has been spared many of the troubles that pull at others.
The Bible is full of stories where God intervened with miracles you don’t need me to list them for you but there are stories of sick being healed, dead being raised back to life, weather being changed, and wealth being obtained. So we know he can work miracles. Daniel was saved from the mouth of lions but many early Christians were not, why? The answer usually given varies around the theme “we don’t understand God’s purposes” I hate that answer. It’s weak
Do we as parents withhold good things from one child only to heap blessings on another because we have a higher purpose for one, or do we wish, work for, and encourage each to be the most they can be? Do we put the safety of one child above that of another? If one child is falling do we refuse to help while we support another who is already rich? Would my earthly father not, as best he could, answer my questions of why?
Here is what I know, miracles are rare else the bible would not have been needed to record them, and if they were an everyday thing we would not call them miracles. So when I encounter one I should honor it as such, and not take it for granted, miracles happen but they are rare. I also know that the ultimate message of the bible and in particularly the New Testament, what we call the Gospel, the good news, is not miracles. The overarching message is that this life is temporary, but there is another life to come. God is saying with each miracle “this is temporary”, with each non miracle he says the same thing, “don’t worry it doesn’t last long.” With each verse of our bibles God is saying everything is temporary in this life, riches are temporary, sickness is temporary, poverty, fame, none of this lasts.
With the children killed in the Moore Oklahoma tornado, we can ask the multitude of whys, why didn’t God stop the destruction and death?, why was this child saved and not another? Why was this house and not the neighbor’s torn apart? With the violence in Boston, with the world in turmoil, when looking at needy friends or neighbors we can repeat the weak answer and say we just don’t understand God’s ways. When those around us are drowning, we can pretend ignorance, or we can confess that this life is hard, even harder for some, that miracles are few. Then weep with those that are hurting, help those we can, pray for that rare miracle, all the while proclaiming the Gospel message…. “there will be a day”
David
Right now my favorite song is several years old “There will be a day” by Jeremy Camp (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlXp4PBi7oc)
