Impossible?

 

This morning’s newspaper has an article on virtual monitors that will replace the screen sitting on a desk with a pair of glasses. The last section of the articles was titled, “Where will we go next?” I thought of my mother. She made fun of any idea that humanity has ‘arrived’ by her tongue-in-cheek reaction to new inventions. She laughed and said, “We’ve gone about as far as we can go.”

In her day, much of what is commonplace now would seem impossible. We can talk face to face on a phone without wires, print on a 3-D printer ‘human’ hearts that work, buy a ticket to ride into outer space, and own an airplane with wings that fold up so it can be parked in our garage. What next indeed!

The Bible talks of God being able to do the IMPOSSIBLE. It also says there are some things impossible for Him. Jesus also says if we have faith like a mustard seed, nothing will be impossible for us, yet He also said that salvation for a rich person (or for any person) is impossible for us, but possible for God.

This can be confusing without knowing the Greek word translated impossible has a variety of nuances. In Acts 14:8 it means one who is crippled and physically unable to walk. In Romans 15:1, it describes those who are spiritually weak compared to those who are spiritually strong. Other NT occurrences of this word ‘adynatos’ mean impossible — as in no-can-do.

These descriptions of those for whom something is impossible are followed by the action that is impossible. That is, Jesus makes clear that a sinful human being cannot save himself or herself, but it is possible for God by his grace to save sinners who respond to His merciful offer in faith.

Another example is Romans 8:3: “For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh . . . .” and Hebrews 10:4 adds, “For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” These passages point out that it is “impossible” for the law or religious rites to make anyone spiritually righteous yet God can do it through Christ.

None of these “impossible for me” verses leave out faith. It is a gift from God and vital because, as Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

God can do anything, but Is anything impossible for God? Despite the many OT and NT verses that say not, the entire Bible reveals a holy, righteous God who is without sin. That is, for God, sin is impossible. Hebrews 6:17–18 gives one example:

“So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.”

God does not lie. When He says something, it is true. When He promises something, He will do it. For that reason, I GAZE INTO HIS GLORY knowing that as I do, He is transforming me in increasing likeness to Jesus Christ. This is impossible for me to do, and so often seems impossible for God, yet His promise is to do that and when I see Him face to face, that will be a completed task. His Word in 1 John 3:2 says: “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” In my imperfections and efforts to obey Him, I am sometimes echoing my mother with, “I’ve gone about as far as I can go” but God replies that nothing is too hard for Him, not even my pride, selfishness and stubborn resistance to change. He will do the impossible for me and for all who put their faith in Him.