There’s an old story about a skeptic who continually harassed the local preacher.  His one delight in life seemed to be making the preacher appear inadequate intellectually. The preacher bore those challenges to his theology and faith with great restraint.

One day the skeptic was heckling the preacher about his views on miracles.  “Give me one concrete example of a miracle,” the skeptic taunted.  “One concrete example.”  This preacher hauled off and kicked the skeptic in the shin as hard as he could.

The skeptic couldn’t believe it!  “What did you do that for?”

The preacher asked, “Did you feel that?”

“Yes,” the man said as he nursed his sore leg.

“Well, if you hadn’t,” said the preacher, “it would have been a miracle!”

I’m not sure that was the best way to get a point across regarding miracles, but it is certainly true that miracles are important to those of us who have faith in God!

It may surprise you to know that while there are many miracles recorded in the Bible, the word “miracle” rarely appears in the Old Testament, at least in most translations (only 3 times in the NKJV).  In fact, the word “miracle” rarely even appears in the gospels (only in Mark 9:39 and Luke 23:8).  The more common words that are used for miracles throughout the Bible are the words “signs” and “wonders”.

Miracles have the ability to create a sense of “wonder” or awe.  And then, their purpose was to serve as a “sign”.  A miracle is a sign that God uses to point to Himself, the same way that we follow signs to find a museum or an airport.  As John reported, “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:30-31).

Despite the skeptics, those of us who are Christians believe that our God is a God of great power.  We believe that He created this world.  We believe that He led the Israelites through the Red Sea.  And we believe that He raised Jesus from the grave.  Repeatedly, He has demonstrated His power and we take comfort knowing that we have that kind of a Father watching over us.

“Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!  Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth!  O seed of Israel His servant, you children of Jacob, His chosen ones!” (I Chronicles 16:11-13)

Alan Smith