10/14/2022
Have you ever been rescued by the Lord when you were on the verge of death? Sometimes it might be by a subtle working of circumstances, sometimes by sending a person, or Heavenly Angel, to do the job, like God did for Peter, but then there are other occasions when either He, or Jesus, show up personally to perform a miraculous rescue. Yet, in all of these amazing moments it is clearly the hand of God at work, and He has a message, or plan for us in those moments. Was your life ever spared? Did you know immediately why? Were you perplexed for a time regarding why you were rescued before at last His purpose was revealed to you? Are you still asking yourself why? Miracles happen, and none more intense than when our lives are saved in this way… by a miracle.
“Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.”
Psalm 107:19-20 ESV
God saves us spiritually from eternal death and sin through Jesus Christ, but on occasion, when it is His will, and suits His purposes, He also rescues us bodily from death in our physical lives. Has this ever happened to you, or someone you have known? Have you been miraculously saved from death by circumstances that could not be explained except by calling them miracles, or done directly by the hand of God? Have you been driving down a highway in an automobile, and fallen fast asleep at the wheel? Were you about to be involved in a horrific accident, but were suddenly, and mysteriously, awakened just as you were about to leave the road by hitting a bump, or hearing a loud sound? Did you immediately thank God for your rescue before even having time to consider whether it was actually by His hand? Did you just know instantly that it was Him and call out his name?
“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened.”
Acts 16:25-26 ESV
Miracles happen all the time; and sometimes there is no divine voice, no glorious light, nor the awesome presence of a heavenly being. Sometimes it is a gentle nudge, an unexplained event, or a rescuer who just happened to be in the right place at the right time… a place they don’t often go, or have never been before. Have you ever experienced a miraculous set of events like this… perhaps felt the ground shaking like Paul did in his jail cell? Miracles happen!
“And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands.”
Acts 12:7 ESV
At other times, like this, we encounter angelic beings, or earthly messengers (angels) that warn us, perform miraculous events, or lead us to safety as they save our lives. In these cases we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God has sent them, and that it was by His hand that we were saved. Perhaps we were warned not to go someplace, or do something, and find out later that had we continued on with our own plans we would have been involved in a deadly event. Or, maybe we were involved in an accident and saved by someone while we lay there dying, someone that no one else saw… a person that we talked to and who gave us a message… like the in the situation that occurred to Peter when the angel appeared and said “Get up quickly!”
““He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters. He rescued me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my support.”
2 Samuel 22:17-19 ESV
Or, maybe Jesus appeared at your moment of death and saved you physically. Amazingly, I can speak to this scenario personally. I was rescued from drowning in a lake as a teenager. I was swimming when I became too tired to continue on, and was sinking into the depths. I was dying when suddenly I was surrounded by light, caught up in the most amazing feeling of calm and peace, and then spoken to by the Lord as He told me not to worry. Then He told me to put my feet down and stand up, and despite thinking that the water was too deep, I did. I was a few feet from the shoreline and my head rose above the water. I had miraculously been transported from far out in the lake to the shallows, and there was no water in my lungs… it was a miracle that only God and I knew about , but pray as I might, I didn’t know why I had been saved, and for many years following that day I would ask the Lord… “Why me?”, and hear only silence. I remember hearing accounts of people being saved from death, and immediately being told why, or given guidance as to what they were to do with their lives, and I found myself wishing that God had spoken to me like that; with an answer, or some divine instruction. The answer did eventually come, but only in His perfect time, and not in a way I expected. Has this ever happened to you, to someone you have known, or have you heard of such a thing from a trusted source? God interacts with us today, and in many ways. Miracles happen, and the Lord’s plan for us is revealed through them.
“He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.””
Daniel 6:27 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the miracles in our lives that you use to lead us to believe in you, and to understand faith. Thank you for the private miracles, and the open and public miracles meant to be consumed by the world, and to reveal your glory to all men. Thank you for every form of miracle, but especially for those that restore life to the dead, and serve your will as you do so. Holy, Holy, Holy, you our God who controls all things, creates all things, and even gives the breath of life itself. Praised be your name for the plan you have for each of us, and for revealing it to us to bolster our belief. Merciful are you who saved us body, spirit, and soul. Wash us in the blood of your son Jesus, and purify us. Transform us into your righteous children as we follow Him into death and resurrection… made free of sin. Judge us worthy Father, and seat us at your table forevermore. By your Grace, and not by our efforts, or works, usher us into eternity with you. Let your will and plan for us be done now, and always.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11 ESV
Rich Forbes