Don’t believe me unless I carry out my Father’s work. But if I do his work, believe in the evidence of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don’t believe me. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.” Once again they tried to arrest him, but he got away and left them. (John 10:37-39)

Read: Jeremiah 2:23 – 5:19

Relate: Carl Sagan has a book, Demon Haunted World, which includes a chapter called, Dragon In my Garage. In this chapter one person claims to another that he has a fire breathing dragon in his garage. The second person is quite taken back and wants to go see this dragon. The first person, the believer, leads the way to the garage, opens the door, and says, “Its right there.” The second person, the skeptic, looks but sees nothing. The believer states this is because the dragon is invisible. The skeptic suggests they spread flour over the ground to see the footprints. “Great idea except my dragon floats in the air.” The skeptic suggests infrared to see the fire this dragon breathes. “This dragon’s fire is heatless.” Then perhaps we could spray paint the air to see just where this dragon is hovering. “Oh, wait, didn’t I mention that my dragon is incorporeal?”

Tell me, please, what is the difference between an invisible, heatless, incorporeal fire breathing dragon and absolutely no dragon at all? You can see how Sagan next wants to make the inference that God, or more specifically in this chapter: prayer, is nothing more than a fire breathing imaginary dragon. Not only can you not see Him, you cannot possibly prove He is there and every test suggested only causes His defenders to “move the bars”.

React: There is one very real problem with Carl Sagan’s inference. The miraculous is happening all around us, all the time. A question was asked in church, how many by a show of hands have received a miraculous answer to prayer? Of the 150 or so people in the room, at least, 130 raised their hands. God is answering prayers all the time.

Want a very real example? Me. Nearly three years back I preached a message on fasting where, during the message, I talked about how I would like to one day be healed from asthma. (http://vimeo.com/85754480) Almost immediately after that sermon a man who God had healed from asthma decades back asked if he could pray for me. In the three years from that point, I have not had a trace of asthma. This is far and away the longest I have ever gone in my life without any symptoms. Recently I was talking with a couple that I did not even know were Christians. The wife was telling me how she had recently been healed from a neck issue. I’ve had an aunt raised from the dead. I had a college professor whose daughter did the same. Big and small, all around us, all the time, God is still on the move. We might not believe Him, but it is impossible for a truly honest person to deny He exists.

Respond: 

God, I have seen and I know that You are my God. You are not some ever elusive being who is far far away. I don’t have to desperately hope for some distant glimpse of You maybe possibly someday. You are here. You are with me, now. I am so grateful for all that You have done in my life. I am so grateful for all the times You have answered my prayers. As I come to You today I pray that You would again prove Yourself the same now as You were yesterday and will be forever. As I bring my needs and hopes before You I pray that once again, You would intervene in a way that only You truly can. In all things may I ever give You glory for You are my God.