We read of some amazing things taking place in our Bibles. Throughout the scripture, miracles come in many different shapes and sizes. Food is multiplied, demons are cast out, tough circumstances vanish in an instant, and people are healed of all manner of illnesses. All of which we are told in God’s word can still happen today. We often view all of these miracles as the greatest things that can take place in one’s life. But when you compare any miracle to salvation it is nothing more than a minor act. Meant for a greater purpose.
We know this to be true by a few statements made in our Bibles. For instance, when Jesus returned to His hometown He was met with much unbelief. The Bible says that because of this he was not able to perform any miracles there except to lay His hands on a few sick people and heal them. A great miracle in our eyes. But under the inspiration of God healing a few people is recorded as almost nothing.
Mark 6:5 (ESV)
5 And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them.
Healing, like any other miracle, is simply a temporary fix to an eternal issue. God is able to heal you from all that ever ails you. But those fixes will only last a short time until you are once again sick from something else. Often our greatest desire from God is for ourselves or someone else to be physically healed. In our eyes, it is the greatest miracle God could pour out but we overlook those key details. In reality, healing is still a minor miracle because it always has an expiration date. Yet salvation is the greatest miracle because it never expires but stretches on into eternity forever. Taking us to a place where the miracle of healing will never be thought of again.
Revelation 21:4 (ESV)
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
The life of the Apostle Paul gives us great insight into just how minor the miracles we often desire truly are. Possibly no one else in history received the same provision and deliverance from God as Paul did. The hand of the Lord was on the life of Paul and protected him countless times. He was rescued from those who wanted to kill him, released from prison, provided food, survived a shipwreck in a great storm, and even stood up to walk away after being stoned.
2 Corinthians 11:23–26 (ESV)
23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers;
Philippians 4:13 (ESV)
13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
What we see in this is that God miraculously moved in Paul’s life many times. But every time Paul ended up in another situation in need of another move from God. This is probably the reason Paul was more interested in writing about the eternal salvation of God instead of the temporal miracles He is able to do in one’s life. Like Paul, our focus doesn’t need to be on the minor miracles but on the greatest miracle. That being God’s plan to save us from our sins. Then like Paul, we will be able to understand and accept the times God chooses not to provide the miracle we are seeking.
2 Corinthians 12:7–9 (ESV)
7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
All this is not to say you shouldn’t seek miracles in your life. The Bible teaches us to make our needs known to God and believe that He will meet them. So pray and ask God to move in a mighty way in your life. Or the lives of others. Prayer truly has the power to do things that we cannot begin to believe. God is able to greatly exceed our imaginations.
Philippians 4:6 (ESV)
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
James 5:13–16 (ESV)
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
Ephesians 3:20 (ESV)
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
However, don’t let minor miracles become your primary concern. Don’t cultivate a mindset that values the temporary fixes more than the greatest fix of all. As we have said, salvation is the greatest because it is eternal. Meaning it has no end, unlike any other miracle that can take place. Salvation also stands out because it has effects both in this life and the life to come. Freeing you from sins and opening you up to a world of blessing from God. Bringing inexpressible joy into your life. While also granting you entrance into the glory of Heaven.
Romans 6:6 (ESV)
6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
Romans 6:23 (ESV)
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 15:13 (ESV)
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
John 3:16–17 (ESV)
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
It’s also amazing to think about all that had to take place for salvation to be possible. Every other miracle in our Bibles only required a word and possibly a touch. Every miracle performed by Jesus was done through a simple statement no matter the difficulty. The other miracles we see in our Bible were either done after God saw a need for His people and had compassion on them. Or after the prayer of an individual. Salvation is the exact opposite of this.
Salvation could not be brought through a simple prayer, a touch, or a move of God from Heaven. It required more for us to be saved. Much more than any other miracle ever has or ever will ever require. In order for us to be saved and forgiven all our sins, God had to come to the earth in the form of a man. Then be nailed on a cross and rise again three days later. Salvation could not come easy even for God it took a sacrifice on His part. One that He was more than willing to give even while we were still lost in our sins.
Philippians 2:6–8 (ESV)
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Hebrews 9:11–15 (ESV)
11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
Romans 5:8–10 (ESV)
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
All other miracles are minor when compared to salvation because no other miracle requires or provides what salvation does. If you question if salvation truly is a miracle just remember that it came in a way that can’t be explained. As well as the fact that it was able to change your life in ways you could have never imagined. Salvation truly is a miracle and one that we never deserved.
Knowing this should have an impact on our lives. We should view the fact that we have been saved from a life of sin and an eternity in hell just as we would any other miracle. Our praise shouldn’t get louder when we finally receive that healing or divine move we have been praying for. Instead, our praise should arise whenever we think about all God did so we could be saved. We read of great praise in the Bible that many equate to the experience of being healed. But we have received something greater and our praise should reflect that. Causing us to overflow in love and adoration to the Lord who made a way for us to be saved.
Acts 3:4–9 (ESV)
4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God,
God is able to do amazing things in our lives. Things that many of us could never imagine. But none of those miracles are able to compare with the miracle of salvation. Don’t allow your desire for God to move in your life to overshadow what He has already done for you. You have received salvation, the greatest gift that anyone can ever hope to receive. Any other miracle now is just another small gift from God. Simply meant to help you along until you meet Him face to face. So treat salvation as the great miracle it is and always thank God for it no matter what else you may need at the moment.
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