Mission Impossible!

Long before the movie series came out, Mission Impossible was a TV show.

I loved watching!  Every week it began with the main character receiving a small cassette tape. (For those born in the post record/ current CD era- I’ve include a definition and pic. Cassette: a container that holds a magnetic tape used for recording or playing sound or video) :-)

Anyway, he would place the tape in a cassette player (usually while on a plane for some reason) press play and it would begin... “ Good morning Mr. Phelps ..." Then, the mysterious voice on the tape would explains the grave situation at hand for the IMF  ( Impossible Missions Force). After a clear understanding of the situation at hand  (complete with a folder of the villains pics to peruse while listening to the scenario).

The voice would say, “your mission Jim, should you choose to accept it is” ...and then a super high secret, dangerous plan of espionage and intelligence was laid out to catch the bad guys.

After a warning of being disavowed if caught or killed, the tape would self destruct in 5 seconds...poof! Smoke would rise as Mr. Phelps once again accepted his impossible mission and headed out to perform acts of sheer coolness against the enemy.

Yesterday and the day before and the day before that, oh and last week ...- This verse kept coming my direction.

“With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matt. 19:26

The context of this verse is a conversation Jesus is having with his disciples. You see, a very rich young man approached Jesus and asked Him what he was lacking to gain eternal life. Jesus told him to keep the commandments. Perfect. The young man  convincingly states that he has done so much! Why, even since his youth!

Impossible! No one has kept God’s commandments perfectly.

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

Matthew records Jesus’ response to the young man like this, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” Matt. 10:21

When the young man heard Jesus’ perfect offer the text says,“..he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” Matt. 10:22

Impossible! He receives the answer to his question and then he rejects it? 

Too much! .....Indeed.

Jesus turns to His disciples and says:

“Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Mat. 19:23-24

 A bit overwhelmed at the difficulty of entering the kingdom of heaven, the disciples ask the question of all questions..

 “Who then can be saved?”  Matt. 10:25

To which, Jesus says the words we began with...“With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matt. 19:26

Jesus truly set out on an impossible mission according to man’s perspective and resources.

Who can save a soul from hell? Who can pay the exorbitant price to redeem a life from the penalty of inherent sin ?

We certainly can’t save ourselves. The young man proved that. Perfection is needed to enter heaven.

The only One who ever perfectly kept the commandments completely by His perfect life is Jesus.

And following Him is the only way to perfection:

Laying down our lives for His, resulting in His perfection placed on us and life, eternal. 

An impossibly perfect trade!

Listen!

“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Cor. 5:21

If Jesus’ victory over death made it possible for you and I to enter heaven, then what is impossible for Him?

What seemingly impossibility is before you today?

What nail biting, teeth grinding, pit in your stomach scenario has you in its grips?

Who you are looking at will make all the difference.

Man? Impossible!

WIth God? Mission accomplished!

*Prayer peeps! ( or  IMF (Impossible Missions Force) I am back on my targeted gene therapy medication with instructions to dose increase to maximum dosage over the next few weeks.

Last time the side effects were pretty severe, so praying the Lord will keep them at bay.

“Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.

And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?”

So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”  Matthew 21:18-21