And You Say Miracles Aren't for Today

If you don’t believe miracles happen today, just ask an Auburn football fan! Two games in a row, both leading up to the National Title competition, recently came down to the wire. Lose either game and Auburn is out of the running for the National Championship. Win and they position themselves to play for college football’s top honors .

First they had to get past Georgia. On November 16th they did just that with a Hail Mary on a fourth down with 18 to go for the last play of the game. Auburn’s QB launches the ball, two Georgia defensive backs are both beautifully positioned for an interception. Auburn’s receiver is too deep. He’s out of range, yet when one defensive back jostles his teammate ever so slightly the spiraling football bounces off his teammate’s chest and projects perfectly into the outstretched arms of the originally intended Auburn receiver who runs the remaining yards in for a touchdown and sweet victory!

Next Auburn needed to bump off number one Alabama. With the score tied and only one second remaining, Alabama attempts a rather long field goal. If Alabama’s ball soars through the uprights, they win. But even if it doesn’t make it through, it will most likely fly out-of-bounds and the worst that could happen would be over time. Instead Alabama’s kicker sent that football short and slightly right, missing the filed goal and leaving the ball in play. Standing in perfect position, Auburn’s player snags the football and thanks to both the run of his life and some pretty decent blocking by his teammates, he returns that ball all the way into his end zone scoring a very unexpected TD to upset number one Alabama!

Auburn goes on to defeat Missouri in a much less miraculous matchup and will play Florida State for the title on January the 6th.

Without that perfect chest bounce, Georgia celebrates. Without that 109 yard return, Alabama either wins or, at the very least, gets the chance to keep fighting. Thanks to two plays, that are being described as nothing short of miraculous, in two back to back games, Auburn takes on Florida State for the title.

What does all this mean? That God’s an Auburn fan? Not so sure about that. I think two better conclusions are that, 1) it ain’t over till it’s over and, 2) nobody but the Lord knows how it’s gonna end.

Now, while it’s awfully fun to watch your favorite ball team succeed against impossible odds through incredible measures at the very last second, I’m not certain that qualifies as a boneified miracle. True miracles require something else entirely: being in a relationship with the God of the universe for whom all things are possible and nothing is impossible – where it’s never too late for His suddenly. Never!

Have you ever stood in need of supernatural, Divine intervention? I know some of you have. We’re at the one year mark of waiting in that very place. Our family is greatly encouraged by all the recorded miracles throughout Scripture, by all those who testify to the miraculous having taken place in their own lives and by realizing that our miracle-making God has performed a gazillion more that we aren’t even aware of. Some think it’s foolish to believe in or hold out for the miraculous, and we agree . . . if you’re talking about football. But since we’re talking about our Mighty, Mighty Diety, faith demands trust in His person and His promises. Jesus is preparing a home for us and has already performed the best miracle of all by taking our place and trading our sin-sickness for His righteousness. And, if you haven’t made that trade with Him already, that miracle stands ready for you!

We so appreciate all of you who continue to stand with us and pray in faith for the Healer’s Divine touch on Kristen as we wait for a miracle of 100% healing. Please pray that we will not grow weary, that we will love and serve each other patiently (especially as we’re all together over Christmas break) and that we will continue to seek the Lord  and praise Him with all our heart.