Do Miracles still happen?

Do you believe in miracles?  Well, before we get to that question, let's try to define exactly what a miracle is.  Put a check by each item that you believe is a miracle.

Being healed from cancer with a doctor's help.

Seeing a vision of the virgin Mary on a building

Identifying the 3.12 billion letters of the genetic code.

Surviving a tornado that rips your house apart.

Holding an entire library in your hand.

Seeing statues of Hindu gods drink milk.

Watching paralyzed actor Christopher Reeve walk again.

Receiving an annual message from the Virgin Mary.

Winning the big game in the last minute.

Seeing tears fall from the eyes of a painting of Jesus.

Acing your hardest exam without cracking a book.

Receiving the exact amount of money needed in a crisis

Learning the events told to three children by the virgin Mary have come true.

Having your mother never ask why you were late for curfew.

Watching the fillings in your teeth turn to gold.

OK, here's the official definition of a miracle from The american Heritage Dctionary: 

               "An even that appears inexplicable by the laws of nature and so is held to
                be supernatural in orgin or an act of God."

Did that change your idea of which events are miracles??  Here's a brief explanation of a few events.

     Last June, the world learned that the human genome--all 3.12 billion letters and 50,000 genes--had been identified for the first time.  This prompted one scientist who worked on the project to remark, "Wow, only God knew before."  Is this a miracle or the result of hard work??

     You can hold a library of information in your hand with the new hand-held, Internet-capable computers.

     Christopher Reeve is paralyzed from the nexk down after an accident,  But, on Jan. 30, 2000, millions of TV viewers saw him walk across a stage as if he had been healed.  The Super Bowl advertisement used digital, computer enhancements to make it look like Reeve was walking.  Reeve said he did the commercial to show others what he belives will be possible one day.

     In June of last year, Pope John Paul II released the third document of the vision of the three children of Fatima.  According to reports, these children received information from the virgin Mary in 1917 predicting a second world war, the rise and fall of communism, and the unsuccessful attempt to assassinate a pope.  All have come true.

     Over the last decade, various religious visions have been reported in the news media as miracles: a rainbow-colored image looking like the virgin Mary appeared on the glass panels of an office building in Clearwater, Fla.; Hindu statues around the world drank spoonfuls of mild;  annual messages from the virgin Mary come to a woman in Conyers, Ga.; a 12th century painting of Jesus in the Church of Nativity in bethlehem weeps; many in Africa and Canada claim that God has turned the fillings of their teeth into gold.

     As for passing a test without studying or your mother ignoring the fact that you midded curfew, I don't know about that!

     So, what about miracles today?  Clearly, miracles did not end with Jesus and the first-century disciples.  You must be wise, however, and pay attention.

What Miracles Can Do

     In 1995 Time magazine reported that 69 percent of the people polled believe in miracles.  They also reported that  the fastest-growing churches in America are Pentecostal congregations where "signs and wonders" are encouraged and celebrated.  Those who study phenomenon say miracles occur to people in all denominations and religions, as well as to those with no deep religious faith.

     Miracles show God's power.  Even Jesus' enemies recognized that He couldn't do miracles witout the power of God (John 3:2).  When Jesus commissioned His followers, He told them that they could expect to do all He had done on earth (including miracles) once the Holy Spirit came to them (John 14:12).  Leaders in the early Christian church believed Jesus, and miracles occurred frequently (Acts 5:12).

     Medical miracles are good examples of modern-day miracles.  Some people are headled without the surgery or suggested medical treatments.  The medical community calls these "spontaneous resolutions," rather than miracles.  Others, however, experience healings through the accomplishments of modern medicine and doctors' skills.  Someone who receives an organ transplant and lives a normal life is a living miracle.  Skeptics, however, criticize miracles like the gold dental work, pointing out that Jesus didn't offer shiny new substitutes in place of complete healings. 

     Of course, miracles alone will not change nonbelievers into believers.  Only the Holy Spirit can do that.  However, miracles might plant seeds that grow along with the work of the Holy Spirit.

So, How Do You Know What is a Miracle?

Good question!  In fact, lots of good questions about miracles don't have answers.  Here's a few:

Why does God heal some people and not others?

What's with these really strange miracles?

Are some miracles dangerous?

What does a person need to experience a miracle?

Why do some people believe in miracles, but not in God?

OK!  That's enough questions.  Consider these guidelines as you think about miracles.

1.  Don't believe everything you see or hear.  Be careful of internet wites with mitacle testimonies.  The news media can be misled, too.

2.  Pray for a miracle when you or someone you know needs help. Jesus taught us to ask in His name.  So, do all you can to help through prayer.  If that means allowing God to work through modern medicine, then go to the doctor.  If it means studying for an exam, do it.

3.  God doesn't charge for His miracles, but people might. Don't pay someone to pray for you.  Don't pay someone for that person's idea of a miracle.

4.  Don't let any miracle become the focus of your worship. Only God is worthy of your worship.

5.  Take time to discuss miracles with others. Healthy discussions about spiritual matters can strengthen your faith.  In addition to your earlier questions, ask these:

     Have I ever experienced a miracle?

     What do I think about the strange phenomenon reported in the media as miracles?

6.  Forget about miracles. Insead, ask "Where is God working in my everyday world and what can I do to be involved?"  And when you do, you'll find your miracle!

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