The Lord promised that those “that believe” will perform certain miracles:
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them: they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. (Mark 16)
This promise was not given in isolation. Rather, it came immediately following the Lord’s assertion that “he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” (Mark 16:16) Miracles are given to teach which beliefs bring about salvation. Jesus was saying that if someone’s beliefs do not result in casting out devils, speaking with new tongues, taking up serpents and drinking poison without being harmed, and healing the sick, they aren’t the ones that lead to salvation.
The belief Jesus spoke of is not just effectual for certain miraculous manifestations. Those who hold the belief Jesus referred to will find every aspect of their lives radically more effectual than their peers. The fact that Christians today live such normal lives is even stronger evidence than the lack of Jesus’ listed miracles that, whatever their belief, it is categorically different than what Jesus was teaching and describing.
Through faith in Jesus Christ, individuals repent, obtain promises from God, and work mighty miracles in his name. In a world where people can’t even define the word, is it any wonder we see so few of these things? How many people do you know who unerringly obey all of God’s commandments? How many people have received promises from God through personal communication from him? How many Christians do you know who work the same type and quantity of miracles in Jesus’ name as you find so commonly performed in the scriptures?
Where is faith today? You will not find it exercised or taught in churches. You will actually find stronger examples of it in the secular world than among the religious. As Jesus said, “the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.” (Luke 16:8)
It is easy to see the truth in Jesus’ claim that worldly people more effectively search for what they profess to desire than do religious people. Most religious people do not live according to what they say they desire. They do not actively seek the path to what they claim they want. They do not live according to their understanding of how they will get it. They do not revise their path when they learn new information.
Is it any wonder that so many Christians are indiscernible from those who do not believe in God? Is it any wonder why the Christian world is so noticeably devoid of the many miracles that Christ explained could only be manifest through faith? Is it any wonder why those who do not yet believe in God prefer to remain in their disbelief rather than accept a religion that fails to demonstrate any benefit?