While I was reading the four books of the New Testament (aka the gospels) and the book of Acts, I noticed that a lot of believers turned to God after they saw the miracles that Jesus or the disciples performed. For example, in John 6:2, Acts 9:32- 35 and Acts 9:40-42.

John 6:2

“And a great crowd of people followed him (Jesus) because they saw the signs, he had performed by healing the sick.”

Acts 9:32- 35

“As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up. All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.”

Acts 9:40-42

“Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.”

This shows that a lot of people do not become believers unless they witness miraculous signs. But this occurrence whereby people believe in God because of the extraordinary becoming ordinary is rare or non-existent today. Yes, we know blessed is he who believes without seeing and we’re to walk by faith and not sight; but Jesus said in John 4:48 “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe.” What this means is that, there are people whose faith and belief in God will be stirred through signs and wonders. Some people will not believe unless they witness something extraordinary.  

So, I wonder why we don’t see the same level of miracles happening today. Is it that we have normalized or rationalized the miracles that happen around us? Or we no longer witness the extraordinary miracles that Jesus and the disciples performed, e.g., raising of the dead, reattaching a severed ear, restoring shriveled body parts etc. so we look at the miracles that we do see today such as the sick being healed, diseases being cured, supernatural provisions etc. as being normal and hence we do not see people turning to God in large droves.

What comes to mind is this – We (Christians) may have conditioned our minds to believe that extraordinary and logic-defying miracles are impossible in this generation. But can we dare to exercise a level of faith so big? – faith that will stir mighty things to happen and save souls in large droves – like it did in the time of Jesus and the apostles. The bible says in Mark 9:23 that everything is possible for the one who believes, and in Jeremiah 32:27 God says “I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”

What’s your opinion? Please share your thoughts in the comment section.

Prayer: Dear Holy Spirit, please help me have the level of faith required to change the world and positively impact lives. And at the end of it all, may all glory return to You. Amen!