Miracles that never happened..

Life is said to be full of miracles and surprises. But do we truly believe in them, or do we see everything as a conspiracy and fabrication? As Christians or believers, we believe in the miracles performed by Jesus and the apostles as written in the bible. However, when someone claims that a pastor has raised someone from the dead, we may find it hard to accept. This raises the question of whether we truly believe in miracles?

Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgement than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths.  If the miracles that were performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. Mathew 11:20-23

Jesus performed numerous miracles in the towns mentioned and yet the people did not believe in him. He told the people that had the same miracles performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago. Tyre and Sidon were cities that faced destruction because of the increasing evil acts. The prophecies regarding Tyre can be found in Isaiah 23. Ezekiel is full of prophecy concerning Tyre and Sidon. These cities were wealthy and prosperous, with well-developed cities and even ships. However, no miracles were performed in these cities.

Jonah was instructed to go to the great city of Ninveh and preach against it. (Ninveh was ruled by Assyrians who ruled Tyre as well). He was unwilling to go, but when he did preach, the people of Nineveh repented and fasted. It used to take three days to visit that important city of Ninveh. On the first day of Jonah’s visit itself the people listened to Him. If a reluctant preacher could turn the city from its sinful ways, imagine the response to someone who preached and performed great miracles.  

The Egyptian magicians mimicked the miracles performed by Moses before Pharaoh. Though the enemy may imitate the miracles, but don’t stop believing in them, as there will come a time when the enemy will acknowledge them as ‘the finger of God’(Exodus 8:19). Not only will they admit their mistake, but they will also comply with your commands, as the Egyptian officials obeyed Moses when he warned them about the plague of hail (Exodus 9:20).

Jonah was hesitant to preach in Nineveh because he was not concerned about the people living in that city or better say he lacked compassion for its residents. Similarly if we are not concerned about those in our own community, we too are fleeing from our God just like Jonah who fled to Tarshish. Our God has a concern for all the people. If we don’t do God’s work, many cities will fall into the category of “Tyre and Sidon”.   

We may underestimate the power of miracles and what they can achieve, but they have the capability to transform even the toughest of individuals. The miracle in the lives of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego changed the mighty King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar who even testified to it in Daniel 4:2 “It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.”

The question arises, what can we do to experience miracles in our lives? God doesn’t send His people empty-handed. When God called Moses, He provided him with signs to prove his calling to Pharaoh and Israel. Similarly, Elijah prayed to God for fire to fall on the altar as proof to the people that he acted on God’s instructions.

When God commanded us to spread His message and to go to the ends of the World, He didn’t send us empty handed but gave us His name with which that we have the power to drive out demons, heal the sick, and even raise the dead. He also gave us His Holy Spirit who guides us in all truth and clothes us with power from above. 

Therefore, we should have faith in God’s miracles and work towards ensuring that every city in the world becomes familiar with Jesus Christ and experiences the wonders and signs of God. For if these things were to be performed in the cities then we may add some people who are God’s concern, to the QUIVER OF GOD.