Fixed Laws vs. Grace

I have struggled with a thought for a while. There are many who believe that there is no such things as miracles. All events can be rationally explained. God made laws in nature and if those laws are broken by God, then God has become a liar, breaking his own rules.

Recently, I listened to a sermon by a Pastor in our area who said just that in a sermon (though he totally contradicted himself later by claiming that we can expect miracles). There are many Christians who expect nothing miraculous from God. They believe that the rules of nature will never be broken by God. However, our faith is based on God's grace and his ability to break the rules of nature in our fallen world and offer us gifts that we do not deserve.

In Jeremiah 33:19-26 God speaks to Jeremiah about his promises to David and to Levi. To David God promised that he would have a dynasty that would last forever. To Levi he promised that his descendants would minister before the Lord forever. God says, "If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that day no longer can come...then my covenant with David...my covenant with Levi...can be broken..."

God explains how solid his promises are to us, his children. Will God break his covenant that day and night will continue? No. But what about the time that the sun stood still? What about the time when the shadow moved back six steps to confirm God's word to Hezekiah? God altered the routine of the heavens! So, how do we understand the working of God?

First, our world is in a fallen state and God is in the process of redeeming it. That means, that there are times when God will work graciously, rather then by the strict rule of the law. Philip Yancey said it something like this, "The opposite of justice is not injustice, the opposite of justice is grace." (What's So Amaging About Grace) God is sovereign over all of his creation. He can dispense grace where he wills. Grace is when God gives us what we do not deserve.

Here is an example. Adultery (sex outside of marriage) and fornication (sex before marriage) is wrong, it is breaking God's law. The good news is that God in his grace forgives these when we call upon Jesus for forgiveness. Just think, God is serious enough about his moral laws for us that he holds us eternally accountable! But, he loves us so much, that he is gracious when we accept his son Jesus!

Let's expect God to do miracles! God can work in you to do a miracle of repentance, so that you can quit that habitual sin that hounds you. God can do a miracle of motivation, so that you can begin that work that he is calling you to begin. God can do miracles of healing in your emotions, mind and body. Let's trust God for his grace when he has promised to do miracles for us!