|
WHAT IS A MIRACLE?
A Miracle is more than just something that is presently
beyond the power of man’s science to achieve. It is an event wrought
by God that is beyond the power of man to perform even with scientific advancement.
In the church, we sometimes tend to
confuse a “blessing” with a “miracle”. For example, the
advent of electricity and/or the internet have been blessings in our lives. To
people on earth even as recently as one hundred years ago, these things would have seemed like miracles however, they are
man made and within the capability of man. On the other hand, Manna from Heaven
(which was received by the Israelites) is one possible example of a miracle. It
is highly unlikely that men will ever be able to manufacture such a nutritious food in a similar manner.
I observed a more recent example of
a miracle. On my mission for the LDS church, I knew a family with a son that
was profoundly deaf. The doctors told this family that their son could not hear
because he was missing a bone in his inner ear that was necessary for it. One
day his parents asked for a priesthood blessing for their son and in this blessing he was told that he would receive his hearing. Within a week, this promise was fulfilled. I
will share this story in more detail later in the section on the gift of healing. For
the moment, it will suffice to say that this boy could not have received his natural hearing through conventional means.
WHEN AND WHERE DO MIRACLES OCCUR?
Miracles occur when God decides that it is time to manifest
His power in some way. They can also occur when an individual successfully exercises
his/her faith and prevails upon God to intervene in a manner that would otherwise be impossible for men. One example of this is when the Brother of Jared asked God to provide light for his people. (Ether 2:21-25; 3:1-6; 6:1-3) He asked and he did receive…..even
much more than he had expected! Another more recent example is when the young
boy, Joseph Smith, showed his faith in God’s scriptural promises and prayed to gain knowledge from His Heavenly Father. The result of that faithful prayer can be found in The History of Joseph Smith, volume
1, chapters 1-5 or at the end of the Pearl of Great Price published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Miracles occur whenever and wherever God deems it necessary to aid His children and/or accomplish His work. (“For behold this is My work and My glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” Moses 1:39) Sometimes—let’s
face it—most of the time, we do not understand how we as individuals fit into the “Big Picture” which is
God’s plan but we can and should find out. Miracles are God’s way
of leading us step-by-step to that purpose.
WHO CAN PERFORM MIRACLES?
Heavenly Father (or God) through Jesus Christ and His
servants (mortal or immortal) are often the authors of miracles. Beware though
because Satan can also cause miracles to be effected. His understanding of the
laws that govern the use of miracles is vast but his power to perform miracles is limited.
For instance, Satan can appear to men and claim that he is God or is sent from God but there is a test to find him
out. There is a way that one can tell if a Heavenly messenger is from God or
Satan (see Doctrine and Covenants 129). Simply ask to shake hands with the messenger. If the messenger attempts to do so but you do not ‘feel’ a hand there,
do not listen, tell the messenger to leave you because he/she is not of God.
John warns the members of the church in his day to be careful of false prophets.
He told them that false prophets may deceive the very elect or the strongest of God’s mortal servants. No doubt, part of their convincing power involves the performance of miracles. Satan will tell an individual just enough truth to convince them that he is telling the truth. He then interjects his false doctrine to lead unsuspecting souls down a path away from God.
Having said this, how can one know if a miracle is of God or of Satan? The
scriptures give us that answer. The clearest of all of these is in Moroni 7.
12
Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an
enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually.
13
But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and
enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.
14
Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and
of God to be of the devil.
15
For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain,
that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night.
16
For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you
the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power
and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.
17
But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know
with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good,
no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.
18
And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye
do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged.
19
Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from
evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ (Book of Mormon | Moroni 7:12 - 19)
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
So
in short, if a miraculous event brings you and/or others closer to God and/or Christ and encourages you to DO good things
in alignment with that, it is of God.
THE WHY AND HOW OF MIRACLES?
My philosophy about teaching or writing is this: concentrate
on showing the “why” and “how” of a subject. Often in
classes I find the teachers giving their students the “who,” what,” “where,” and “when”
of a subject but not the “why” and “how.” I have discovered
that this is probably because teaching the “how” and “why” requires a great deal more out of the teacher
than would be required otherwise. It demands that the teacher do a lot more studying,
preparation, and even some personal experimentation to find answers for themselves.
Anyone can usually find out—who, what, where, and when. Although
that is where one must begin, they are merely facts that are usually there for the asking or are easily pulled out of books
or life experiences. Regardless of the fact that “why” and “how”
are more difficult to answer, knowing the response to these questions is usually immensely more satisfying, useful, and practical. After all, what good were mere facts in achieving flight. It was the application of “why” and “how” that allowed man to soar
with the birds.
Miracles occur:
- to increase
or build the faith of those who already believe in Christ.
- to tell
us something which we could not possibly find out in any other way.
- to do
something for us which we could not possibly do for ourselves.
- to aid
and comfort in times of need.
In answering the question, “Why
and how do miracles happen?”-- I think that we must look at one particular
scripture. The scripture is in the Doctrine and Covenants.
20
There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—
21
And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated… (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 130:20 - 21)
We do not know all of the laws that govern the Heavens but when we consciously or unwittingly obey those laws we reap
the blessings associated with them. The wise individual sets a course to study
and find out the laws and consciously obey them so that they can rely upon the powers of heaven to work in their lives. Often we stumble into the blessings by taking the counsel we receive from the scriptures
or from other god-fearing individuals and living our lives as we have been counseled.
One example of this that I will share in another section is from an individual that discovered quite accidentally the
blessings that are associated with D&C 93:1. When she first became an active
member of the LDS church, she acted on faith to change her life to live it according to the teachings of the gospel (though
she had already been living it very closely before her conversion). As a result,
she received the blessing associated with D&C 93:1 but it wasn’t until later when she did some study about what
she had experienced that she found this scripture that showed her why she had qualified for it.
( VERILY, thus saith the
Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth
my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am; Doctrine
and Covenants | Section 93:1)
Throughout this work, I will attempt to explore
the how and why of Miracles and the other wonders and blessings of God by trying to connect them with their associated laws. In this manner I hope to give all who read this a “road map” to bringing
the powers of Heaven to bear in their own lives should they desire to do so. As
with all things worthwhile, gaining a closeness to God and the Heavens is definitely not easy but it certainly is WORTH IT!!!!
|
|
|
|
|
