Do You Need Signs to Believe?

As Christians we ask God for all sorts of things. We ask Him for health, peace, even a good job when we want a change. Sometimes we are even blessed by Him with greater blessings than what we ask Him. He does everything we need, but we still demand more.

At that time, there was an official whose son was ill. When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. Jesus therefore said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went his way. As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was living. So he asked them the hour when he began to mend, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live”; and he himself believed, and all his household. This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.

John 4.46-54

In today’s reading from the Gospel of John appointed for today, we hear of the “second sign that Jesus did,” when it occurred to me. Demanding blessings from God is nothing new. The Scriptures and even Church history is filled with stories of God’s miracles and blessings.

One of my favorite miracles has been happening for centuries. The Miracle of the Holy Fire at the Tomb of Christ in Jerusalem is known as ‘an annual miracle’ since it has taken place every year. You can watch videos and read personal accounts of this miracle across the internet.

The Holy Fire has been met with skeptics and even violent opposition in the past. This doesn’t stop the faithful of the Church from believing it is true. My question is this. After centuries of irrefutable evidence, how can people still demand more proof from God?

From healing sick people to raising dead people back to life, God has ‘proven Himself’ over and over again. Even members of the Church insist on demanding proof from God that He is ‘listening’ to their prayers. We are full of demands from God and fall way short in our response.

When will we be satisfied by God’s blessings? Isn’t it enough that He gave us another chance to live today so we could repent? I know we won’t be perfect, but at least we could say to God, “Ok. You’ve given me plenty. Today is my turn to give to You.” What would you give God today?

Consider the energy you will spend today on all sorts of earthly needs. You will work (or go to school) to make a living, but what is that living if it doesn’t include God? You will interact with other people, but what are those interactions if they do not share the love of God?

While we are not expected to live inside the Church building, we are expected to live in communion with God. That means giving Him more than just ‘lip service’ to our so-called belief. If you are awake, He gave you a sign to believe. What are you going to do with that sign?