If You Could Have One Miracle

Blessed Child by Ted Dekker & Bill Bright

The Fiction Story

Are you in need of a miracle? In this story miracles are sold in bulk in order to make an important point.

After rescuing an orphan, Caleb, from an attack on his monastery in Ethiopia, Jason, a relief expert, and Leiah, a Red Cross nurse begin to notice he is no ordinary boy. Caleb is capable of performing miracles.

Jason and Leiah unwittingly bring him into the public eye by placing him in an orphanage in California.

The miracles start early in this novel - a man is healed of a gunshot wound, a dead bird is brought back to life, a blind boy receives his sight. Caleb's rescuers are intrigued, after all, they could use a few miracles of their own. But Caleb has also caught the eye of some enemies, one who wants to exploit his powers and another who wants to put an end to them.

The bulk of the story occurs while Caleb is in the custody of the California orphanage. The priest there is more concerned about profiting from the child than protecting him. On behest of the priest, Caleb holds regular "shows" in which attendees pay for a chance to be healed. Caleb does not disappoint. As the public in large comes to terms with the validity of the miracles an important question arises. Where does his power come from?

Some believe it comes from his mind, that he is the next step of evolution. Other's believe he has a connection with deity. Still others chalk the entire thing up as a hoax, even as many pay thousands of dollars to attend the healing shows.

Where Caleb's power comes from is an important question, both in fiction and in real life. If miracles make you skeptical, good for you. It is dangerous territory. Everything should be examined, miraculous or not. Of course Blessed Child is a Christian Fiction story, so let’s grant these miracles some trust, for the sake of the story, and in the light of the fact that Caleb clearly claims his power comes from Jesus Christ.

The Christian Story

Believe it or not this story is not about miracles. It's about THE Miracle. Salvation. It's a miracle Caleb cannot perform.

Favorite line: “Who said a straightened hand (referring to one of Caleb’s miracles) is more miraculous than a healed heart?”

It's a line repeated a few times in the book using slightly different wording. Although I do not like the euphemism "healed heart," I do like the line because it correctly eludes to salvation of the soul as being better than a miraculous mending of the body. Jason and Leiah learn this lesson which culminates in a bizarre “salvation scene.”

Since there are so many miracles fluttering through the pages of this book, and since there are so many people clamoring to get one of their own, I can’t help but think of John chapter 6. In that chapter, Jesus performs a miracle, multiplying fish and bread to feed five thousand people. As a result large crowds begins to follow him. Their desire is not for the man who can do such things, it's for more bread.

Jesus tells them that he is the bread that they should seek. In other words, why seek bread that fills your body temporarily when you can have the bread that sustains for eternity – why seek miracles that are temporary when there is a miracle that is eternal?

I loved this books theme and its bold clarity. It needed to be clear, after all, how can your soul be saved if you think your greatest problem is a withered limb? Are you in need of a miracle?

Looking for a good read? Try one of my own books or one of these Fiction Candle top recommendations.

Until next time, remember Christ the author of salvation and the reader of hearts.

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