Blog 95 October 8, 2018
MIRACLES NEVER CEASE ~ Robert Wise explores the world of Divine intervention from an objective point of view. Can 21st Century people believe that the hand of God touches people in today’s world?
In the last blog we explored what occurs when we pray. Following the guidelines in scripture, we found some clues in the word ζωη or life. The New Testament called Jesus the bearer of life, leaving the implication that life is imparted to our need. Let’s look further.
For the first three hundred years of the Christian era, believers struggled to completely define Jesus’ identity. Interestingly enough, this lack of precision and definition did not stop the experience of the miraculous. I believe we can gather from that period that we don’t have to be dogmatic or 100% certain about how we define our beliefs to be able to reach for the hand of God to bring divine interventions. The people I interviewed reported in previous blogs would tell you the issue is not in theological precision, but in humbling ourselves.
The scripture suggests life begins in eternity and finally ends there. Its essence is transcendent. This life came in the historical presence of Jesus, but ζωη is in fact supra-historical. We experience life in time, but the nature of life is eternal. No test tube can measure this dimension. Unfortunately, society most often fails to grasp this fact. Like the concept of love, life comes from another dimension that is not calculable with a computer.
My experience has led me to the conclusion that when we intercede for illness and brokenness, we are literally calling for a new surge of life to enter the person. The addition of new life brings the healing. Even when the body remains the same, new vitality touches the mind, the emotions, and the soul. I began to see that this transfer of vitality occurred in many of the people I interviewed.
Another dimension for healings can be found in the Book of Genesis. The creation story makes it clear that humanity is to have dominion over the earth. We are part of a divine partnership which means we have a responsibility for what happens in this world. For example, we can pray for a nice lawn, but we don’t get Bermuda grass until we plant the seed. When we are struggling with illness and pain, it is important to make a connection with the heavenly Father for Him to release life in and through us. A process, a connection exists between human need and the life God wants to pour into us when we are praying.
The Bible calls this bridge, this point of contact, “the laying on of hands.” As we have already noted in an earlier blog, the palm of everyone’s hands naturally alludes a release of energy. You can feel this reality by bringing your palms together slowly until you sense the flow of warmth and energy. My conclusion from numerous interviews is that the hands are a natural connection place for healing to be released. When we pray, life is transmitted to and through the person in some form.
Let’s go back to an analogy I used earlier. A large power line brings electricity to a transformer that brings electricity to our houses. The hook up is small compared to the power line but without the smaller wire, no lights would turn on in my home. Why does the system of life seem to work in this manner? Because we are born with free will and our Creator waits for us to use that capacity to invite his intervention. I conclude that intercession and the laying on of hands is part of the divine plan to establish connection for empowerment.
