Many will say to me in that day, “Lord, Lord! Didn’t we prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many miracles?”
And then I will say to them plainly, “I never knew you . . .” --Matthew 7:22-23
I can move objects with my mind. Experts in the field of the paranormal call this phenomenon “telekinesis.”
Yesterday, when we drove down the mountain into town, my wife put a small plate of chocolate-chip cookies on the dashboard. At the foot of Twin Lakes hill is a sharp right turn that I have recognized as a “psychic field.” In some mysterious way, it focuses my telekinetic powers.
We sped down the hill and my concentration was so intense I neglected to brake around the turn at the bottom. Focusing on the cookies, I actually slid them along the dashboard toward me. Using only my mind!
My wife is less than impressed with my paranormal powers. She is more thrilled when I offer to wash the dishes, or pick wildflowers for her, or when I leave the toilet seat down.
When Jesus walked this earth the supernatural flowed out of him. He was continually working miracles and driving out demons. And he authenticated the authority of the Twelve by giving them the power to do miracles too.
Yet, oddly enough, Jesus never considered the supernatural to be a sign of our spirituality. He never tells us we supposed to perform miracles. Matter of fact, when Jesus gave his most extended teaching, the Sermon on the Mount, he never mentioned miracles at all, except as a cautionary tale.
He said that, on the Judgment Day, many people will try to prove their allegiance to him by the supernatural feats they performed in his name. Jesus, will tell them he’s not impressed. Then he’ll say, “I never knew you. Depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.”
What, then, is Jesus looking for in his followers? The final words of his sermon tell us we are wise if we listen to his words and put them into practice. Faith is not shown by displays of the supernatural, but by fruit. Jesus never said, “By this all men will know you are my disciples: if you perform miracles, and brag about them at a prayer meeting.”
I don’t think my wife wants to acknowledge my amazing paranormal powers, because, when the cookies slid across the dashboard, they, unfortunately, fell on the floor. Next time, I think I’ll amaze her by sliding a book, or something.
Until then, I’ll just have to impress her by doing the dishes and giving her foot rubs.
(copyright 2011 by by Marty Kaarre)