Putting God into the equation

June 20, 2007

By Randy Mantik

If someone were to offer you a lump sum of $100,000 or a penny that would be doubled every day for four weeks, which would you choose? It seems like the hundred grand is the obvious choice, right? But what if I told you that on day seven, the penny that has been doubled daily would yield you a cool 64 cents? Still take the $100,000?

What if I told you continuing to double that penny daily for 21 more days would result in a $1.3 million payout after four weeks? I think we’d all go for the penny.

Amazing, but true — do the math yourself and see! One penny can become over $1 million in a matter of weeks! You can see why compounded multiplication really makes bankers sing! Why? It’s not just what you start with, but it’s what else is in the equation. If such a small amount can become so large in the natural realm, think of what can happen in the supernatural!

The enemy of our souls would like to blind us to the simple fact God is at work in our lives in a big way. In the day-after-day monotony life so often falls into, it may not appear God is doing too much. However, when we take a moment to look around and see what has actually been going on, we realize God has been very busy “turning pennies into millions,” accomplishing things in the realm of the Spirit we had no clue were even possible.

I think Peter experienced such a moment when he was speaking to the very Jews who had participated in the death of Christ just a few weeks prior. These Jews had just seen a man who had been lame for years instantaneously healed. The former cripple was going absolutely bonkers as he went walking and leaping all over the place, giving God praise and thanks! Peter tried to explain to them why this miracle was possible — this was a real-life example of God’s “turning pennies into millions” principle.

Peter said to them, “You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see” (Acts 3:15,16, NIV).

Previously Peter had witnessed the amazing healings of many people as well as numerous other miracles when he was with Jesus. Now Peter was seeing that same power of the name of Jesus acting through himself as a vessel in the healing of this dear man. Peter learned the power of putting God in the equation and seeing what is impossible with men made possible by the Lord (Luke 18:27). God had entered into the equation, and Peter found that in the Almighty’s hands his “penny faith” could become a million in miracle-working power.

God entered the equation in my life during my growing up years. When I was 11 years old, my dad came in from the fields one day with an ashen face, knowing he was in trouble. My mom sat him down on a kitchen chair and a few minutes later he collapsed on the floor from an apparent heart attack. Death seemed imminent. As my mom faced the stark reality of that moment, she thought about me as the youngest child entering the critical teen years without a father.

“God,” she prayed, “Randy needs a dad.”

Just then she felt my dad stir. However, he remained in very serious condition when the ambulance arrived and took him to the hospital. We really doubted we would see my dad alive again. At one point during that awful night, I remember going into the bathroom and looking at my tear-streaked face in the mirror. Suddenly I heard God speak so clearly: “Your dad will live.” A little while later, my mom called and said we could come to the hospital — miraculously, my dad was stabilizing.

There was a long road to recovery and a drastic change in lifestyle, but my dad was afforded another nine years. God answered my mom’s prayers and I had my dad until I was in college when the Lord finally took him home. We saw a penny become a million — God entered what seemed an impossible situation and changed it for our good and for the glory of His name.

Maybe you are in a situation where, aside from a miracle happening, disaster seems sure. I cannot guarantee God will turn everything around to your liking. But I can promise you God will take what you entrust to Him and work in ways that will amaze you. Why? So you will discover He really does love you and wants to be actively involved in your life. When? Right now.

“But what about my sins? I’m not worthy,” you may be protesting.

God has that covered, too. “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Provision was made for you before you realized you needed it or even wanted it!

So trust your Heavenly Father. Look to Christ as your Savior and ever-present Helper. Who else can turn water to wine, dew to manna, and five loaves and two fish into enough to feed a crowd of 5,000 men? The same miracle-working, “penny-doubling” God of the Bible wants to be active right now in your everyday life, if you will just invite Him into the equation!

Randy Mantik is senior pastor of Crossroads Church of the Assemblies of God in Pembine, Wis.