March 17


The Penalty of Miracles
Matthew 11:20-24


"You have the right to remain silent.  Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law."
Americans are familiar with this phrase.  It is part of the litany a police officer recites to a suspect when "reading him his rights."  It seems that we, like the Pharisees, have been reading God his rights.  Whatever Jesus says can and will be used against him.
Existence.  We hear questions like, "Why can't we go into the lab and prove the existence of God?  If He's really there, why doesn't He show himself?"

  • In the lab?  All of science depends upon one paradigm.  Set up an experiment and get a result.  Change one thing; do it again.  The change of result was caused by the change made.  Now, tell me, if God exists, how would you turn him "off" for your experiment?  If he doesn't, how would turn him on?
  • Show Himself?  Have you been listening?  This is not a tame dog in a circus--this is Jehovah the Almighty.  Why should the elephant perform tricks at the flea's command?
Goodness.  "If God were really a loving God, he'd never send anyone to Hell."  Quite the case;  he doesn't.  Hell is for volunteers--who reject God's mercy for their own, do-it-yourself salvation.
Righteousness and Power.  "If God were both omnipotent and righteous, there would be no evil in the world."  Ah!  I take it then that you, o questioner, are not among the evil.  You've never done anything wrong, of course.  You have?  You're asking the omnipotent and righteous God to take of this problem?  Had you considered that he might just wish to be merciful to you--and to all those evil ones around you?  Perhaps his books haven't closed yet, and he's waiting for some--perhaps you--to turn from their ways and seek him. 
The answer to all of these things--and many others--is found at the Cross.  If there is no God, then who raised Jesus from the dead?  If He is not loving and good, then why did he make such a sacrifice on the Cross?  It surely wasn't for anything we have done.  By his sacrifice righteousness was satisfied.
Power?  Power is the ability to get things done.  It would seem to be impossible to be perfectly righteous and still be merciful--love or justice would have to give way.  But at the Cross God blew that problem apart.  Power--for salvation, for you and me.