Based on John 4:48

MEMORY TEXT:  “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

The type of miracle most requested has to do with physical healing.  Popular faith healers often guarantee results based on the text in Isaiah 53:5, "With His stripes we are healed."  But this verse actually refers to our transgressions and iniquities, and is predicting the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for our sins.  The success of popular faith healers depends on how much charisma and self confidence they themselves exhibit.  And they are quick to point out that, if a healing doesn't take place, it is because the suffering one didn't have enough faith.

You may be wondering, What about James 5:14-15, which reads: "Is there any sick among you?  Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him"?  Does this mean that if the elders of the church do the anointing, the sick person will always be healed?

Maybe you know of someone who was healed.  But it is safe to say that in the majority of cases, the person was not healed at the time and may have even died.  This can’t mean that Scripture is deceiving us or that there was a lack of faith.  We don’t know what God knows.  But we can know that He will indeed raise up the sick in His own time—if not immediately, then definitely when the trumpet sounds and the dead in Christ rise first.

Our greatest comfort is in the phrase, "if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him."  Jesus died to save us eternally from our sins, not to cure our temporal illnesses.  When a sick person commits himself to the Lord, the promise is that his sins are forgiven—guaranteed.  And though he passes to his rest, the promise is that he will be raised up in the last day.

How gracious is our heavenly Father.  He is not willing that any should perish.  What a thrill to realize that, if with all our hearts we seek Him, even at the last moment of life, He is there to respond, and He will raise us up.