You Are a Sign and a Wonder

A lot of times, you will hear of "signs and wonders" being advertised in a ministry. It is usually referring to physical healings and prayers where people respond in unusual ways.  It may also be accompanied by a corporate feeling of the presence of God. I'm not going to trash any of these things, but I would like to talk about another sign and wonder, one that is on display every day for the world to see.

"Here am I and the children whom the Lord has given me! We are for signs and wonders." ~ Isaiah 8:18

YOU are a sign and a wonder, a sign to make people wonder about the true nature of God.  Your life speaks something to others. I'm not talking about your performance.  Our life is not a picture of perfect performance. It often shows the weakness of our humanity, but it is in that weakness that we show the heart of our loving Father.

Our lives are examples of very fallible people being loved by the infallible Creator. We are showcases of grace, everlasting mercy, and a love with no demands. That's how our lives show God's glory (His goodness).

The grace that we've received speaks of a divine justice. This justice is different from the world's sense of justice which is based on the punishment/reward of our actions. I know I've done a lot of things in my past that many would say are deserving of some sort of retribution, but I never got that from God (and I never will). All that I ever received from God was grace, love, patience and understanding.

This grace can tell the world a different message than what they might have heard about God. They might have heard that He is punitive, vengeful, and easily angered. But those of us who have any experience with God at all are very much aware that we have never felt any of those things from God. We've been changed by His love, not His punishment. In fact, that love has fulfilled God's justice for us, because what we really needed all of our life was not punishment, not torment. We needed LOVE. And that has been abundantly supplied by our wonderful gracious Father.

This is the story of our life. We are stories of love for the world to read. The hero in our stories is Someone who would leave the 99 to find one like you or me who was lost. While we were lost in our ignorance and blinded to the true nature of God, He rescued us from that prison of ignorance, revealing Himself to us in a glorious way. We have fallen in love because He loved us first. And that's the story for all to see.

For those who believe in an eye for an eye, they can just look at us and see that that is not true. If they are afraid of being punished by God, they can look at us and see that it does not exist. Yes, we are signs that make people wonder if God is really better than advertised. We express the will of God because His will is that we all be rescued from our darkness and enjoy the light and the love of Someone who will never leave us. 

Friend, you are a sign and a wonder. Your story is needed in this world. And God is writing that story every day.