Open Letter to Bruce Wilkinson #1.003a
You Were Born for This
Chapter 1: A New Way to See the World: You were born to expect a miracle today
Page 3
- “What if I told you I’m certain you missed a miracle yesterday? And not just any miracle but one that Heaven wanted to through you to significantly change someone’s life for the better – maybe your own? I would understand if you were doubtful.”
If we are to approach these questions biblically, then we’ve got to spend some time with that word, “miracle.”
Within the pages of the Bible, what constitutes a miracle? We see them throughout the Old and New Testaments, but if we’re not careful, we’ll end up muddying the waters for your readers.
From Theopedia: “A miracle, broadly defined, is any action in time where the normal operation of nature is suspended by the agency of a supernatural action.” That’s pretty good, but I believe Richard Purtill’s definition to be even better: “an event in which God temporarily makes an exception to the natural order of things, to show that God is acting.” Purtill’s definition takes into account the reality that God is the primary agent behind those occurrences we call miracles.
Understanding what miracles are, though, begs the next logical question: what purpose did/do miracles have?
From Thomas Miles: “Miracles have a purpose—they are for edification and revelation: John 20:31 “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” Miracles are also by faith accepted as coming from God. No known system of laws can give answer to the workings of miracles by God. John 4:48, “then said Jesus unto him, except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.” Acts 2:19, “And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke:” 2 Corinthians 12:12, “Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.” (source)
Was the burning bush a miracle wrought by God? Certainly.
Were the ten plagues done unto Egypt miracles wrought by God? Certainly.
Was the parting of the Red Sea a miracle wrought by God? Certainly.
Did God use miracles in the lives of His prophets Elijah, Elisha, Jonah and Daniel? Without question.
Did Jesus, the son of God, perform many miracles during His life on Earth? Absolutely.
Did God produce miracles during the early church (by using those earthen vessels we know as the apostles)? Absolutely.
And what was the purpose of each of these miracles? For edification and revelation, according to Miles’ apt conclusion. So, if I apply these definitions to specific miracles we read about in Scripture, my perspective grows to be more biblical:
When Jesus fed the five thousand (for example), the fact that people were fed was secondary to the people’s need to see God and His power and His Hand of providence at work in their lives.
I also like what Doug Bookman has to say about miracles. I heard him put it like this once (and I’m paraphrasing loosely now):
“Let’s say you’re driving some rainy night and the van begins to fishtail. Just before sliding into the ditch, you regain control. You might be apt to calling what just happened a miracle. (For sure, we would be on sound theological footing to say that God’s divine hand of protection was at work.)
“But a miracle, biblically speaking, involves the supernatural. It cannot be scientifically explained or repeated. Let’s say that you’re driving a van on a rainy night. Just before you go sliding into the ditch, the van levitates off the ground 15 feet before safely righting itself on the road. That, ladies and gentlemen, is a miracle.”
Remember Purtill’s definition: “an event in which God temporarily makes an exception to the natural order of things, to show that God is acting.” As 21st-century Christians, we must endeavor to compare what the Bible says about miracles against what popular voices of our time say about them.
“Impossible situations can become possible miracles.” (Robert H. Schuller)
“The miracle is not that we do this work, but that we are happy to do it.” (Mother Teresa)
“Miracles happen everyday, change your perception of what a miracle is and you’ll see them all around you.” (Jon Bon Jovi)
“Miracles don’t just happen, people make them happen.” (Misato Katsuragi)
“Everything is a miracle. It is a miracle that one does not dissolve in one’s bath like a lump of sugar.” (Pablo Picasso)
“Men create real miracles when they use their God-given courage and intelligence.” (Jean Anouilh)
“Love is the great miracle cure. Loving ourselves works miracles in our lives.” (Louise L. Hay)
“You can either take action, or you can hang back and hope for a miracle. Miracles are great, but they are so unpredictable.” (Peter Drucker)
What’s lacking from all of these quotes? The fact that God initiates miracles.
What’s lacking in your springboard question, Bruce? The fact that, since God initiates miracles, no man can know with any amount of certainty whether or not any of us have ever “missed a miracle,” as you put it.
In fact, biblically speaking, since miracles are supernatural events wrought by the very hand of God to edify the believer and reveal His presence to the unbeliever, we can say authoritatively that there is nothing that any of us can do to interfere with God’s schedule for His miracles.
Finally, according to your opening questions, the miracles of which you write don’t have anything to do with “an exception to the natural order of things” – unless I am terribly misunderstanding you…
(Much more could be said regarding miracles, but time and space dictate that I close for now.)
More on page 3 on Thursday!
Chris
