People can use the word “miracle,” rather carelessly, including describing finding a parking spot. In the past few days, I’ve heard the word mentioned more than any time I remember. Along with “miracle,” I’ve heard “Divine intervention,” and “God’s providence.” It’s hard to argue with those words, given former President Trump’s near assassination experience. A fraction of an inch or a slight turn of the head, and we would be talking of an actual assassination! Did God protect Trump? It’s hard to argue that He didn’t.
My argument is not that believers must now vote for Donald Trump. I refuse to make a partisan argument. My argument to believers is that we should be open to seeing God’s real, direct presence in this world. To be open to see this, we need to have the open eyes of faith. Some of our nation’s founders used the term “Providence,” but meant little more than the Creator’s indirect influence. Christians should mean more than that.
One of the great stories in 2 Kings is the story of Elisha and the army of the King of Syria, which was sent by that King to capture the prophet.
2 Kings 6 15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.
16 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
17 And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (NIV)
If our actual, physical eyes were always open to the full realities of the spirit realm, the free choice of faith would be impossible. Such a constant vision would be more than our fallen nature could bear. God’s holy Presence would, itself, blind us. What we can have, are eyes of faith. Such eyes would cause us to do, by faith, what sight would compel.
We do not pray, by faith, to an impersonal force (sorry George Lucas), or an impersonal Providence. Instead, we pray to the living, personal God, whose grandeur fills heaven AND earth. When we pray for healing and healing comes, we do not thank our “lucky stars.” We thank the Creator of the sun, moon, and stars.
None is worthy of God’s miraculous intervention. When He does intervene, it is according to His will, which He never needs to explain. Faith allows us to stand in wonder, when He works powerfully among us.
Tim Kelley