In the nearly 50 years of my life I have met many people. Some believe in miracles and some do not. Some believe in God and some do not. Do you believe in miracles? Do you believe in Jesus Christ?
I am going to quote from the last prophet in the Book of Mormon, named Moroni. This is a man who had seen his entire nation killed to the last man. He was speaking to us, in our day. As I quote him I’d like to invite you, the reader, to ponder some questions:
- What do I learn about the Savior from these verses?
- What do I learn about miracles, past and present?
- What are the benefits of believing that Jesus Christ is a God of miracles? What are the consequences of not believing this?
- What miracles–large and small–has the Savior worked in my life? What do these miracles teach me about Him?
And again I speak unto you who deny the revelations of God, and say that they are done away, that there are no revelations, nor prophecies, nor gifts, nor healing, nor speaking with tongues, and the interpretation of tongues;
Behold I say unto you, he that denieth these things knoweth not the gospel of Christ; yea, he has not read the scriptures; if so, he does not understand them.
For do we not read that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing?
And now, if ye have imagined up unto yourselves a god who doth vary, and in whom there is shadow of changing, then have ye imagined up unto yourselves a god who is not a God of miracles.
But behold, I will show unto you a God of miracles, even the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and it is that same God who created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are.
Hopefully the logic of these statements is apparent. We do read that God is the same, and he is unchanging, his character and his works continue. Moroni continues, naming some of the greatest and important miracles in the history of the world:
Behold, he created Adam, and by Adam came the fall of man. And because of the fall of man came Jesus Christ, even the Father and the Son; and because of Jesus Christ came the redemption of man.
And because of the redemption of man, which came by Jesus Christ, they are brought back into the presence of the Lord; yea, this is wherein all men are redeemed, because the death of Christ bringeth to pass the resurrection, which bringeth to pass a redemption from an endless sleep, from which sleep all men shall be awakened by the power of God when the trump shall sound; and they shall come forth, both small and great, and all shall stand before his bar, being redeemed and loosed from this eternal band of death, which death is a temporal death.
And then cometh the judgment of the Holy One upon them; and then cometh the time that he that is filthy shall be filthy still; and he that is righteous shall be righteous still; he that is happy shall be happy still; and he that is unhappy shall be unhappy still.
And now, O all ye that have imagined up unto yourselves a god who can do no miracles, I would ask of you, have all these things passed, of which I have spoken? Has the end come yet? Behold I say unto you, Nay; and God has not ceased to be a God of miracles.
The chain of reasoning here seems very clear. If there were no miracles then we would not be here, and we would also have no hope of a Resurrection, or of salvation.
And who shall say that Jesus Christ did not do many mighty miracles? And there were many mighty miracles wrought by the hands of the apostles.
And if there were miracles wrought then, why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable Being? And behold, I say unto you he changeth not; if so he would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of miracles.
Miracles happen on the earth every day. Miracles have happened in your life. God’s work is not done, nor will it ever be. Would you like to see more evidence of God working in your life? Moroni has some advice:
Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth…
O then despise not, and wonder not, but hearken unto the words of the Lord, and ask the Father in the name of Jesus for what things soever ye shall stand in need. Doubt not, but be believing, and begin as in times of old, and come unto the Lord with all your heart, and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling before him.
Be wise in the days of your probation; strip yourselves of all uncleanness; ask not, that ye may consume it on your lusts, but ask with a firmness unshaken, that ye will yield to no temptation, but that ye will serve the true and living God.
A word of clarification about the word lust. I give a quote from one of the Lord’s living Apostles:
Moroni also reminded his people not to be consumed by their lusts. The word lust refers to an intense longing and improper desire for something. It encompasses any dark thoughts or evil desires that cause an individual to focus on selfish practices or worldly possessions rather than doing good, being kind, keeping the commandments of God, and so forth.
Fighting against temptation takes a lifetime of diligence and faithfulness. But please know that the Lord is ready to assist us in our personal efforts and promises remarkable blessings if we endure to the end.
No message is given more often in scripture than ‘ask and ye shall receive.’ I can testify in the name of Christ that my God is a God of miracles. Put Him to the test because He wants you to know Him, to love Him, and to trust Him.