Don’t doubt miracles’ existence

Published: April 11, 2007 | 5976th good news item since 2003

The Bible is full of accounts of miracles. Some say they are just metaphors to explain a truth, while others say otherwise that they truly are miracles. And of course there are those who say there is no such thing as a miracle.

One such story is that of the young boy who had two fish and five barley loaves. It was from this small lunch that Jesus fed more than 5,000 people with an abundance left over. Was this a miracle, or was it a metaphor, or did it simply not happen?

I read a story this week of a poor young girl from a small, inner-city area of Philadelphia. It was many years ago when the little lass wandered into a small, crowded church. She was turned away because there was no room for her.

Sobbing, the little girl slowly walked away. “I can’t go to Sunday school,” she sobbed to the pastor as he walked by. Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the pastor guessed the reason and, taking her by the hand, took her inside and found a place.

The little girl’s life ended shortly thereafter, and as her body was being removed from one of the poor rundown tenement buildings, a small red purse was found. Inside the purse was 57 cents and a crumbled note with childish handwriting on it that read, “This is to help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday school.”

When the pastor read this note to his congregation the following Sunday, he challenged them to add to this donation and to enlarge the building.

As the story was circulated, a wealthy individual donated land for the new building, checks from across the country poured in and within a shot time a new building, seating more than 3,000, was built.

If you are in Philadelphia, look up Temple Baptist Church and Temple University, and then go to the Good Samaritan Hospital where in one of the rooms you may see the sweet face of a little girl whose 57 cents, so sacrificially saved, made such remarkable history.

Could a poor traveling preacher feed thousands of people from a small lunch, or could he make the lame to walk or the blind to see? Could a poor little girl’s small change help build a great university? Do miracles really happen?

For those who doubt I would suggest they take a trip along the Elkhorn and see nature at its best or on a clear night observe the stars or a morning sunrise or better yet the miracle of a newborn baby.

When we consider all these things – the heaven, the moon and stars, even the birds of the air and the fish of the seas – can there be any doubt that there are miracles?

Published in Faith
See also: www.georgetownnews.com