Trees In The Park

Trees in the Park

By Pastor Jim May

Don’t you just love to have the time to take a walk in the park and see all of God’s creation in a peaceful setting? There’s just something about it that calms the spirit and helps us to realize just how big and loving our God truly is.

One of the things that I like to look at in the park is all of the different kinds of trees. I’m not a horticulturist, but I do like plants. Just don’t put their lives in my hands because there’s not a green thumb anywhere and they will surely die. I even have trouble keeping silk flowers from wilting sometimes.

But today I want to turn to the Book of Mark to read about one of the miracles that Jesus performed while he ministered on the earth bodily. Everywhere that Jesus went, miracles were happening.

When I think of that, I wonder if Jesus really is in many of our churches anymore.

Jesus said in John 14:12-15, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments."

There are some qualifiers here for seeing the miracles of God in our midst.

The first is that we must truly believe on Jesus and his power to perform miracles. Believing on Jesus means more than just a head knowledge, but a heart conviction and an absolute faith and trust in Him. It also means that we desire to be like him; to be with him; and to be a true disciple both in word and in deed.

The second qualifier to see miracles happen is that we ask for them in Jesus’ name. That name is above every name and at the mention of Jesus’ name every demonic power of hell must come to attention and bow, every sickness and disease must leave and all of creation must bow in honor because of the awesome power of Jesus’ name.

But understand that miracles are not wrought just to make things easier for man. Whether we see or we are blind – we can still give God glory. Whether we have a withered hand or a normal hand – we can still give God glory. There are times when we bring more glory to God and become more like Jesus when we are suffering affliction, than when we are well. God’s glory comes from an obedient servant, who like Job of old, will serve the Lord faithfully in the midst of adversity, just as he did in times of blessing.

I wondered why God did not always choose to heal the sick or raise every saint from the bed of affliction. You see, we don’t always know God’s plan. All we can see is what’s happening right here and right now. We know not what the future holds.

Can God heal? Absolutely – he is all powerful, and if he chooses to heal, healing will come. But sometimes God chooses not to heal. God is sovereign and he only allows those things into your life that will bring good to you in the end.

From the beginning man’s sin brought death into this world. Death doesn’t come easily for anyone, but for some it is a great relief. When the time approaches for the soul to be reunited with its Creator, the process of growing old and sickly must come to pass, unless God chooses otherwise. We have to remember that God wants all of his children to be with him. It is his great love for you and I that often allows those things to come upon us which will ultimately lead to our laying this old body down and going home to be with the Lord.

So, with that in mind, let us realize that sometimes God just simply chooses not to heal, not to deliver us from a dread disease, and not to make us whole again, because it’s getting nearer to the time when we are appointed to make that final trip to our Heavenly home.

It’s is a fact that we all want to go to Heaven, but none of us wants to die to get there. There are only two people recorded in the Bible who bypassed the grave on their way to Heaven and even they will return again to fulfill God’s Word.

Paul tells us in Hebrews 9:27, "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:"