What Are Our Limits?

 

What Are Our Limits?


The question is somewhat ambiguous, because it gives rise to an obvious question: In what regard? Are we considering limits in our powers to control the physical world? Or are we considering the limits of our knowledge and understanding?

First, regarding our abilities to perform miracles, we have Jesus's assurance: "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father." (John 14:11-13)

When talking to his disciples about faith, he said: “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will be done”.

There apparently is no limit to the miracles that can be accomplished by faith that is not thwarted by doubt. He said to them, “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”

Second, regarding the limit of our knowledge, we have these quotations from the Gospel of John:

“. . . the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

“I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth”.

It should be obvious from this selection of quotations that the range of our abilities is extensive. Then the question arises as to how to realize this potential. Certainly, we should be convinced from the outset that this power exists in each of us. When we look back through recorded history, we find a number of rather impressive accounts of superhuman actions. In the Old Testament the stories of Elijah and of Elisha provide a number of examples, and in the New Testament we have the miracles of Jesus. Throughout the years stories of the saints as recorded, for example, in The Little Flowers of St. Francis, and in the lives of St. Anthony and of St. John of the Cross, tell of many miraculous accomplishments. Even in the twentieth century, we have accounts of miracle workers like Padre Pio and the itinerant evangelist Bevington, as well as the faith healer and mystic, Joel Goldsmith.

One might argue that each of these individuals was a special being, endowed with special gifts. But we have already seen that Jesus has recognized that potential in each of us. It's just a matter as accepting that potential for both power and knowledge and beginning to practice it. Above all, we need to maintain faith and patience, and not lose heart when we appear to fail. For most of us time and mental effort are required to effect such a radical shift in our perception of reality. We are strongly tempted to blame God, and even become resentful toward Him, when attempts apparently do not bear fruit. Most of us experience some form of “dark night of the soul” when everything seems to be going wrong. But if we persist, the pattern will inevitably shift, as we will experience successful results, some of which may be startling. Gradually doubt will disappear, and we will become accustomed to trust in the Holy Spirit to perform miracles and to teach us and lead us into all truth.

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