No Variation Due to Change
Paul wrote that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
“…For I the Lord do not change…” Malachi 3:6 (Malachi means: messenger)
James wrote in 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” NKJV
No variation due to change. God does not change.
Did we see miracles in Bible-times? Would it be safe to expect miracles still today?
According to one online dictionary, the definition of Miracle is, “a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency”
Do you believe in miracles?
I found a quote online that really spoke to me: “The most important thing the Bible tells us about miracles is not about the miracles themselves but the God who performs them.”
And Luke tells us “Nothing is impossible with God” Luke 1:37
The Bible is filled with examples of Miracles. From Creation Week, to all the miracles the Israelites witnessed as they journeyed out of captivity. All the healing Jesus did while on this earth. Even the dead being raised back to life. Can we expect those same types of miracles today? Yes!
Just one of the many stories we have featured on Stories of Faith is that of George Mueller and the miracle he and 300 orphans witnessed.
Try to picture this scene in your mind: There is a knock at the door. A staff member stands in the doorway. The words that escape her lips are framed with worry. “Pastor, the children are dressed and ready for breakfast, but we have no food.”
George Mueller asked her to take the children into the dining room and have them sit at the tables. There in the witness of 300 children plus staff, George thanked God for the food they were about to receive. They then waited.
You see George had an ace up his sleeve. George had faith and George knew God would provide food for the children. He always had; He always would. God does not change.
Within minutes, there was a knock at the door. Who could it be? The pastor opened the door and there stood a baker. “Mr. Mueller,” he said, “last night I could not sleep. Somehow, I knew that you would need bread this morning. I got up early and baked three batches for you. Can you use it?”
Soon, there was another knock at the door. Who could it be? The pastor opened the door and there stood the milkman. He began to explain to George that his cart had broken down directly in front of the orphanage. He went on to say the milk would spoil by the time the wheel was fixed and could George use some free milk? George smiled as the milkman brought in ten large cans of milk. It was just enough for the 300 thirsty children.
Does God still perform miracles? You bet he does!
There are dozens of stories I could share with you, but I will share just one more.
Bill was the victim of intercessory prayer. His parents had gone to their grave not seeing their prayers answered. Bill had led a very worldly life; in fact his nickname was Wild Bill and he was tough. Nothing could make Bill cry, even as a child. But things were about to change for Bill.
A group of church members began praying for him. Each member, pouring their heart out to God asking for a miracle in Bill’s life.
Mary was the wife of Bill, she had asked for the prayer, and her world was about to be turned upside down.
As she was driving home one day, she noticed smoke billowing up from her back yard. As she pulled in, Bill was running around frantically, muttering under his breath. She followed him to the backyard where he was burning all his tobacco and pipes; all his smoking paraphernalia.
Then she went to the kitchen and there were all of Bill’s liquor bottles turned upside down in the sink, glug, glug, glug, down the drain.
Bill was saying, “I can’t do this anymore. I just can’t do this anymore.” Mary just stood staring and watching in disbelief but encouraged all the same.
She reached out to the church to share the wonderful news. The group decided it was time to step up their game and they committed to praying for 24 hours. Each person took an hour, and they covered Bill and Mary in pray for a solid 24 hours!
I love that part of this story. Instead of counting this great news as an answer to their prayer and just moving on, they doubled down and prayed with more intensity, fervor, and commitment. This is where it gets really good!
Mary is the kitchen making supper one evening. Bill is in the living room in his recliner, reading the paper. There’s a knock at the door.
Mary knows Bill will get the door and continues her meal preparations. A few minutes later she finds her husband sobbing in the living room. She is instantly panicked. “Bill, what is it? What happened? Who was at the door?”
It took Bill several minutes to compose himself and when he was finally able to speak, this is the story he shared with his wife.
He had been in his recliner reading the evening newspaper when there was a knock at the door. As he began to get up to answer the door, it opened. He stopped, startled, and just stared. There in his doorway was, Jesus.
Mary asked, “Jesus!?”
Bill replied, “Yes! I saw the scars on His forehead and the scars on His wrist and He was beautiful! I know it was Jesus!”
Bill went on to say how Jesus walked into his living room and grabbed Mary’s recliner by the arm and pulled it over close to Bill’s recliner and sat down in front of him.
Jesus then said to Bill something like, “Bill, I have 50 some years of prayers to answer on your behalf and I can’t answer them because you have not given your heart to Me. Bill your parents went to their grave not seeing their prayers answered. Bill, would you let me give your parents a surprise? On resurrection morning, would you allow me to present you to your parents?”
Bill is listening to Jesus, face to face, and the words Jesus was speaking melted Bill’s heart. Bill answered “Yes, yes, yes!”
Bill had an instant conversion. Jesus then stood and walked out, and Mary walked in and that is what it took for Bill to be changed.
Wild Bill, hard Bill, party Bill, the Bill that would never cry, was now bawling his eyes out after a face to face with Jesus Christ.
There is an old song called Face to Face with Christ, My Savior
“Face to face with Christ, my Savior,
Face to face—what will it be,
When with rapture I behold Him,
Jesus Christ who died for me?”
Indeed. What will it be like when we see Jesus, face to face?
Bill went on to be baptized and follow Jesus and he can’t wait to surprise his mom and dad when Jesus returns a 2nd time.
If you are that “Bill”, turn to Jesus today. He invites you to receive the gift of life.
Isaiah 45:22 says, “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.” ESV
And if you, like Bill’s parents, have been praying for your children but not seeing results, do not become discouraged. Keep praying. I have this little saying I repeat often, “As long as there is breath, there is hope.”
Don’t ever stop praying for God to intercede and interfere in the life of your child or loved one or friend.
“The last mediatorial work of Christ before laying aside His priestly garments is to present the prayers of the parents for their children. I saw a mighty angel sent out and thousands of children will remember their early training and be brought back, just before probation closes.” EGW Review and Herald 1890