Every time we visit Tante Margareth, we cannot help but admire the so many trees—fruit and flowers trees—lining up around her house. They are just so green and healthy, thanks to the care of her son in-law. It reminds me of a wise advice given by George Eliot, the pen name of Mary Ann Evans, a 19th century English poet, “If we want more roses, we must plant more trees.” A good advice! No one will give us a silver platter. Good results come from good works and good works come from good preparations. Pure and simple!
Nonetheless as we all know, good preparations do not always end in good works, and good works do not always produce good results. There are always X-factors—things that are outside of our control—that can change the trajectory we have set. These X-factors serve as a warning that life is not in our hands; man proposes, God disposes.
I just received an email from a colleague of mine in the Bible school. He told me that the doctor had found another tumor on his other lung and that his cancer had now metastasized to his kidney and liver. For a while we, his friends at the Bible school, were very encouraged by the progress he had made. This latest news makes us feel so sad. God has done his miraculous healing—from constant coughing and full dependence on oxygen tank to no coughing and freedom from oxygen tank. Now is the time for another miracle.
No miracle lasts a lifetime; if there were the case, we all would live forever. Some miracles last for years, some for months, and some for days. But miracle is a miracle. Regardless of the duration, we give thanks to God who is behind every miracle. If we want more roses, we must plant more trees. So, if we want more miracles, we must pray even more. He, who gives us roses, will give us miracles.
Pastor Paul