Our Savior came not to “razzle-dazzle” us. As enticing as the miracles were and still are, they were not done to impress us, to win us over. They are chronicles in the story, signposts along the journey. Life goes on with all its’ messiness and drama. Do you think that just because Jesus told the young girl, “Rise, get out of your bed”, she would go on to live a long, carefree life? It was all part of Jesus’ mission to restore sight to the blind, exorcise demons, raise the dead, feed the starving, even provide more wine for the wedding guests who were already three sheets to the wind. It was all mission and ministry, not a program. Lazarus would certainly die one day, we still have lepers, and at some point, the wine does run out.

Maybe they are more signs than miracles. You may choose either descriptor; it matters not. Just because I have not heard God’s voice specifically telling me what to do doesn’t mean others haven’t. For me, I choose to go with signs. They point to the kingdom which is already and not yet. I think reversals in ones’ life qualify as miracles in that it took the faith and will of God to effect the transformation. Still, they are signs of the power of God. The very birth of a human being is a miracle – all the millions of microscopic processes that need to fall perfectly, precisely into place. Miracles pop up as continuing reminders. Again, call them signs if you wish. We are continually reminded that God keeps a gentle but firm guiding hand on creation. On the journey, He employs all sorts of scoundrels, rogues, even crooks like Zacchaeus. My wife has a T-shirt maybe you have seen that describes most of the heroes of the Bible as to who they were in their sinful nature. And yet our God does not eliminate them from the roles He has set out for them.

We will continue to stumble and bumble our way through life. Miracles may or may not be how you define those extraordinary moments that defy logical explanation. May the signs of His unconditional love steer you through the storms when miracles seem impossible. The sure, steady hand of our gracious God is always on the rudder of our boat.

Pastor Art