Despite what some positive thinking, motivational coaches want you to believe, some things are simply impossible. We encourage young people to dream big and reach for large goals. Yet it is impossible advice "You can be anything you really want to be." If you lack strong innate musical gifting you will never be a world class musician. If you don't grow beyond 172 cm. you will never be an NFL quarterback. (Our Lord's statement to his disciples that "all things are possible for those who believe" must be understood in context.)
Some things are simply impossible. Millions of people are trying to please their god by doing good deeds, giving money to the poor, offering sacrifices of fruit and vegetables, going to the temple, etc. However the Bible says:
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to himmust believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.Hebrews 11:6
We cannot earn our way to God; we cannot meet His standard of perfection by our own efforts. We cannot enter an eternal relationship with the living God without faith.
This morning I was reading about the early church. Luke's "history of the early church" follows just weeks after the Lord's death and resurrection. I love the use of "impossible" found in Peter's message, the very first post-resurrection sermon.
But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. Acts 2:24
We regularly hear reports of amazing modern medical miracles. Special "miracle drugs" are produced; special life saving surgeries are pioneered. People terribly wounded in war or in accidents are saved from death by wonderful new interventions. Yet there still comes a day when any and all physicians have to acknowledge: "it is impossible to save her/him" and their patient dies. All of us, just like our ancestors, will one day be in the grip of death, no matter what we or anyone else does.
But Christ "laid down his life". What we cannot avoid, He freely chose: the way of death. He died on the cross choosing to become vulnerable, weak, helpless, and apparently defeated by death. Yet death "could not keep Him in its grip". It was impossible. How could the author of life be defeated by death? (Acts 3:15) Impossible. Oh yes, I love the word impossible.
Some things are simply impossible. Millions of people are trying to please their god by doing good deeds, giving money to the poor, offering sacrifices of fruit and vegetables, going to the temple, etc. However the Bible says:
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to himmust believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.Hebrews 11:6
We cannot earn our way to God; we cannot meet His standard of perfection by our own efforts. We cannot enter an eternal relationship with the living God without faith.
This morning I was reading about the early church. Luke's "history of the early church" follows just weeks after the Lord's death and resurrection. I love the use of "impossible" found in Peter's message, the very first post-resurrection sermon.
But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. Acts 2:24
We regularly hear reports of amazing modern medical miracles. Special "miracle drugs" are produced; special life saving surgeries are pioneered. People terribly wounded in war or in accidents are saved from death by wonderful new interventions. Yet there still comes a day when any and all physicians have to acknowledge: "it is impossible to save her/him" and their patient dies. All of us, just like our ancestors, will one day be in the grip of death, no matter what we or anyone else does.
But Christ "laid down his life". What we cannot avoid, He freely chose: the way of death. He died on the cross choosing to become vulnerable, weak, helpless, and apparently defeated by death. Yet death "could not keep Him in its grip". It was impossible. How could the author of life be defeated by death? (Acts 3:15) Impossible. Oh yes, I love the word impossible.
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