There is much confusion in the world concerning miracles. Part of the difficulty lies in the usage of the word. Webster's Dictionary gives us several usages among which are, "a remarkable event or thing; a marvel." Thus, the world speaks of just about everything as a miracle. Today, when there is a discussion of birth we hear the phrase, "the miracle of birth" inserted into the conversation.
What is a miracle? A miracle is the setting aside, or overruling of God's laws of nature by the supernatural power of God. We must not confuse miracles with providence. Providence is God's working within the process of nature to bring about His desired intentions. The birth of a baby is not a miracle, but it is God's natural law to "multiply and replenish the earth" (Gen.9:1).
What was the purpose of the miracles that were sometimes referred to as "signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds" (II Cor. 12:12)? The signs of Mark 16:17-18,20 certified that apostles were special representatives of Christ. They were signs of an apostle. "And these signs shall follow them that believe [some of the apostles "believed not"(Mark 16:12-14), but they later believed]; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover...And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following." The Hebrew writer said in Heb. 2:3 that the word "was confirmed..." (past tense). If the word was confirmed then it needs no further confirming today.
These are many signs of an apostle:
The signs of the apostles and their helpers cannot be duplicated.
The signs of Christ were to prove that God sent him. In John 11 we read the account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. In verses 14-15 "Jesus said unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe."
Do we have signs today? Yes. "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name" (John 20:30- 31).
The only signs that we will ever have are recorded in the written word. To ask for a sign today is to doubt and reject God's word. In Luke 16, we read the account of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man "in hell...being in torment," pleaded with Abraham to send Lazarus to his "five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they come into this place of torment...if one went from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead" (vs. 19-31).
The purpose of miracles was to confirm the word and they were never intended to be permanent. Could one be more "persuaded, though one rose from the dead"?
"If any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God" (I Per. 4:11).
Don H. Noblin
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