When we consider our God, we dare not be stymied by the impossible
By Dean Collins
Some say Chuck Berry was the first king of rock and roll. Others suggest it was Elvis Presley. If kings are named based on who was there first, then I suppose kingship goes to Chuck Berry. On the other hand, if kings are determined by who sold the most records or was more famous, then you would have to go with Elvis. And some might give the title to Roy Orbison or possibly Buddy Holly. All of these legends had musical talent and achieved levels of fame and notoriety.
Being named the king of something may be similar to saying one is the greatest of all time. And if we looked at almost any industry or sector of life we could come up with names that may be or may have been the greatest in their day or season. Warren Buffet may be one of the kings of investing. DaVinci may be a king of invention, though necessity is its mother I’ve heard. Like them or not, Steve Jobs, Walt Disney, and others deserve recognition in their areas of imagination and success. Looking at their record, we might say they achieved the impossible.
But their impossible is nothing like the impossible things God has done.
As Luke begins his Gospel account for Theophilus, he described the moment Mary learned of her role in God’s divine plan. Luke tells us many things about Mary’s encounter with the angel Gabriel. I will mention just a few:
Mary was most favored (1:28)
Mary was greatly troubled (1:29)
Mary tried to discern (1:29)
Mary asked questions (1:34)
Mary was overshadowed by the power of the Most High (1:35)
Mary learned that her relative Elizabeth who was old and barren had conceived. Though the miracles each woman experienced were different, Mary learned; “nothing is impossible with God” (1:36-37)
Mary was completely surrendered to God (1:38)
Occasionally someone pulls off a feat that previously appeared improbable if not impossible. Our advanced technology along with our ever-increasing understanding of the human mind and body coupled with 10,000 hours or more of effort continues to produce new world records and more inventions than we could have ever imagined. We see and enjoy many things we all would have thought impossible achievements in our lifetime.
We see many things we would have thought impossible.
Our fascination with human achievement can dull our memories of the truly impossible things that God has done, is doing, and will do in order to achieve his ultimate mission of redemption. The Scriptures are filled with references to historical events where God brought about the impossible. Consider the Exodus as one example. Moses could never have delivered the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land without God’s repeated interventions of protection and provision. The impossible became possible because of the power of the almighty.
The Bible contains many verses that remind us of God’s track record and promises to do the impossible.
Genesis 1 not only is the opening of the Scriptures, but it also contains the record of God’s creative power at work. He created the heavens and the earth.
The psalmist reminds us that God is a God who works wonders and makes himself known. Jeremiah declared that the God who made the heavens and earth by his great power is able to do anything. His words: “Nothing is too hard for you.”
After the disciples questioned who could be saved after Jesus had given his hard teaching to the rich young ruler, Jesus declared, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”
What is impossible with man is possible with God.
The apostle Paul who endured great hardship and multiple rescues from difficult situations prayed for the church with these words: “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we could ask or think, according to the power at work within us.” The God who does the impossible dwells in us by the power of the Holy Spirit and can be accessed anytime to help us in our moment of need.
Throughout our lives, we will face many challenges and hardships. Jesus told us as much. Having chosen to surrender to God’s will and demonstrate as much by declaring that Jesus is both Savior and Lord, we now are filled with the Holy Spirit and are called to be ambassadors for God’s kingdom. We must not forget that God will continue to guide us and provide for our needs until he comes again. All of God’s story confirms that Jesus will return and will renew and restore all things. The God of the beginning is also the God of the end.
The God of the beginning is also the God of the end.
As God’s children we will see, hear, and experience the life we once thought impossible when Jesus returns in glory!
Lord, in our moments of weakness we forget your track record of delivering your beloved sons and daughters over and over again. We see the work of your hand in creation. We have experienced the transforming power of your love in Jesus. We see you at work in our lives as the Holy Spirit forms us so that we might live as your ambassadors. And now we pray and wait for the glorious moment when Jesus returns finishing what we once thought impossible, the restoration and renewal of all things for all time. Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Your time with God’s Word
Genesis 1:1, 3; Psalm 77:14; Jeremiah 32:17; Luke 18:27; Ephesians 3:20; Revelation 21:5-7; Luke 1:36-38 ESV
Photos by Martin Wyall on Unsplash
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