The Time of Miracles
In today's world, you will often hear people say, "The time of miracles is over," or that God WAS a God of miracles when the Biblical peoples had need of them. The natural extension of that saying is that we don't have need of miracles. I propose that nothing could be further from the truth. Why then have the seas not parted? Why then haven't the dead been raised on a daily basis?
The comfort being that this is not the first time these things were said. I was reading the Bible the other day and came across Judges 6. The people of Israel have become the captives of the Midianites, and the prophet-to-be at the time, Gideon, calls to God, "Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? but not the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites." (Judges 6:13)
It's nice to know that this is not a new question: Why is the time of miracles seemingly over? I testify to you that it is not over. That the time of miracles is just as alive as it was when Gideon said these words. And if you know your Biblical history, you will know that Gideon was living in a time of very open miracles.
So, how can we, like Gideon, unlock the miracles? The Lord answer's Gideon's question with something that first does not seem like an answer. He says, "Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?" I'm sure Gideon was frustrated and thinking, "Umm...hello. Not an answer." But it really is.
See, there's a very specific answer in there. There is not one miracle that does not require some sort of action on our part. God was really promising Gideon a miracle. The miracle was that Gideon was going to save the Israelites, because God was going to give him the power. But God wasn't going to save those Israelites until Gideon got up and did his part. Miracles are always dependent on action, regardless of how small that action is. Even if that action is to "cast about your eyes" and look at that staff, there is an action that you have to do.
We are currently in the throws of the Hill Cumorah Pageant here in Canandaigua, and the Palmyra Stake. We have protestors. I know I shouldn't even perceive their language into my mind, but I have an insatiable desire to at least understand other people, even if I will never agree with them. And I don't understand these people, because they contradict themselves in the same sentence. However, the point being, these protestors scream on and on about how Christ is the way and Christ is the saving power. If they were civil people, I'd say, "Right back at ya, buddy," because we're on the same page there. But they're not civil people, so I just walk on, and think it in my mind. But, what about our action? Because the Atonement is a miracle. In fact, it is the biggest miracle: That a God becomes a man, and has the love and capability to atone for the sins of the world. That is a miracle. But, what did we learn from Gideon?
Are we, like those protestors tell us, trying to save ourselves? No. We're just asking for the miracle. And what do we have to do for that miracle. Well, let's return to our previous simple action of "cast about your eyes." Sometimes, the necessary action for a miracle is to actually ask and trust. And that is the action required for the miracle of the Atonement.
So here we are, in the time of miracles, crying like Gideon for our miracles. But we, like Gideon, will find our miracles and work our miracles through God. What action is God requiring of you for your miracle? So, the time of miracles isn't over. In fact, it is my firm belief that we have just as many miracles as the Bible. Just nobody bothered to write about the not-miraculous things in the Bible. All the same, go, find your miracle, by acting.
The comfort being that this is not the first time these things were said. I was reading the Bible the other day and came across Judges 6. The people of Israel have become the captives of the Midianites, and the prophet-to-be at the time, Gideon, calls to God, "Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? but not the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites." (Judges 6:13)
It's nice to know that this is not a new question: Why is the time of miracles seemingly over? I testify to you that it is not over. That the time of miracles is just as alive as it was when Gideon said these words. And if you know your Biblical history, you will know that Gideon was living in a time of very open miracles.
So, how can we, like Gideon, unlock the miracles? The Lord answer's Gideon's question with something that first does not seem like an answer. He says, "Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?" I'm sure Gideon was frustrated and thinking, "Umm...hello. Not an answer." But it really is.
See, there's a very specific answer in there. There is not one miracle that does not require some sort of action on our part. God was really promising Gideon a miracle. The miracle was that Gideon was going to save the Israelites, because God was going to give him the power. But God wasn't going to save those Israelites until Gideon got up and did his part. Miracles are always dependent on action, regardless of how small that action is. Even if that action is to "cast about your eyes" and look at that staff, there is an action that you have to do.
We are currently in the throws of the Hill Cumorah Pageant here in Canandaigua, and the Palmyra Stake. We have protestors. I know I shouldn't even perceive their language into my mind, but I have an insatiable desire to at least understand other people, even if I will never agree with them. And I don't understand these people, because they contradict themselves in the same sentence. However, the point being, these protestors scream on and on about how Christ is the way and Christ is the saving power. If they were civil people, I'd say, "Right back at ya, buddy," because we're on the same page there. But they're not civil people, so I just walk on, and think it in my mind. But, what about our action? Because the Atonement is a miracle. In fact, it is the biggest miracle: That a God becomes a man, and has the love and capability to atone for the sins of the world. That is a miracle. But, what did we learn from Gideon?
Are we, like those protestors tell us, trying to save ourselves? No. We're just asking for the miracle. And what do we have to do for that miracle. Well, let's return to our previous simple action of "cast about your eyes." Sometimes, the necessary action for a miracle is to actually ask and trust. And that is the action required for the miracle of the Atonement.
So here we are, in the time of miracles, crying like Gideon for our miracles. But we, like Gideon, will find our miracles and work our miracles through God. What action is God requiring of you for your miracle? So, the time of miracles isn't over. In fact, it is my firm belief that we have just as many miracles as the Bible. Just nobody bothered to write about the not-miraculous things in the Bible. All the same, go, find your miracle, by acting.
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