He [God] Himself has said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake
you" (Hebrews 13:5).
A devout Christian heard an urgent news report on his radio that a flash flood
was within minutes of entering the peaceful valley where he lived. Immediately
he went to his knees and prayed for safety. The words were still on his lips
when he became aware that water was gushing under his door. He retreated to the
second floor and finally onto the roof of his house.
While he sat on the roof, a helicopter flew by and the pilot asked over the
loudspeaker if they could lift him off. "It's not necessary since I have the
Lord's protection," he replied.
Moments later the house began to break up and he found himself clinging to a
tree. A police boat, braving the waters, approached him for rescue, but he
assured them that the Lord would save him. Finally, the tree gave way and the
man went to his death.
Standing before the Lord, he asked, "Lord, I'm glad to be here, but why didn't
You answer my prayer for safety?"
The Lord responded, "Son, I told you over the radio to get out of there Then I
sent you a helicopter and a motor boat!"
Nowhere in the Bible are we given the idea that God works only in the
extraordinary. Much of the time He supernaturally works through His created
order. Many people think God is present only when there is a miracle and that He
leads only through signs and wonders.
There are people who always look for a sign. They walk by sight, not by faith.
To them, God is only present in the miraculous. God was "really" at the church
service if something unusual happened. Many desire and look for "visitations"
from God.
But how does that square with God's omnipresence and the fact that He will never
leave us or forsake us? Isn't God at every church service? Since God created the
fixed order of the universe, would you expect Him to work primarily within that
fixed order or outside of it? If God gave us a watch, would we be honouring Him
more by asking Him what time it is or by simply consulting the watch?
Dr. Anderson, Freedom in Christ and Harvest House Publishers
www.ficm.org
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