The Miracle Maker

 

All of us want a miracle every now and then. Even people who claim there is no such thing as miracles secretly wish for one when things get tough. And who can blame us? There are times in life when we have exhausted all our resources and still the pain of our problem is just too much. If we’re honest with ourselves, the miracles we want are actually very significant quick fixes. We want our problem to go away so that we can return to enjoying life on our terms. 

Jesus did about 40 miracles during his earthly ministry. They varied from healing the sick, multiplying food, demonstrating control over nature and even human death. Though he was usually very discreet about his miracle making abilities, the word got out and people thronged to him, hoping to get their own personal miracle. Which is all very understandable. People still turn to Jesus for miracles today, even if they aren’t all that interested in becoming one of his followers. We can get so desperate; we’ll try anything or anyone to give us relief. 

When we look closely at the miracles of Jesus, however, we find that the last thing he intended for people was to see him as a miracle maker specializing in quick fixes. Jesus’ miracles always had long term objectives for the person he was helping – specifically a lifelong relationship with him. The quick fix miracle was meant to lead the person into an eternal cure far beyond anything they could imagine. 

If you are praying for a miracle, keep on praying. The power of God to do miracles hasn’t diminished in the last 2000 years. But as you pray for relief of some kind of suffering which is making life miserable, ask the Miracle Maker for the most important miracle – the forgiveness of sins and life in heaven. Any physical miracle will someday lose its importance. Christ’s forgiveness never will. 

Weekend worship service times: Saturday: 6:00 pm – Sunday: 10:00 am

Yes! The Foundation Does Matter!

 

About the only people who are very interested in building foundations are architectural engineers. Foundations just aren’t the kind of thing which catch most peoples’ attention. If you can see them at all, they usually consist of drab, unpainted concrete. The photo, however, graphically demonstrates how vital it is for a home or building to have a foundation of integrity. 

The Wexner Center for the Performing Arts at Ohio State University has been named America’s first postmodern building because the architect designed it with no design in mind. He explained that just as life is an unplanned accident, so the building has no plan or specific design. There are pillars which have no purpose, stairways that go nowhere. However, there is one part of the building which was planned, designed, and constructed according to strict building codes. You know which part that is. Certainly – the foundation! 

Near the end of his most famous sermon, the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus Christ talked about foundations even more important than those of buildings. He said that every person builds a foundation for their life. And it is that foundation which will determine not only the course of one’s life, but their resistance to life’s problems. Jesus’ foundation plans are challenging to say the least. But following them will have consequences which cannot be measured. 

You and I have only one life to live, one foundation to build. Isn’t it worth finding out Jesus’ plan for the foundation of our lives?   

Weekend worship service times: Saturday: 6:00 pm – Sunday: 10:00 am