Many of the things that mankind once considered impossible have been done within the last few decades. A human was never supposed to run a mile in less than four minutes—Roger Bannister, May 6th, 1954. For most of history it was said that mankind would never walk on the moon—Neil Armstrong, July 20, 1969. These and many other “impossible” feats have been accomplished and surpassed many times since then. Nevertheless, there are other things that remain impossible due to physical limitations. Asking a newborn to write or tie a shoe, jumping over the Grand Canyon in a single leap, trying to teach a fish to ride a motorcycle are just a few examples which come to mind.
There are some things that are impossible for humans in a spiritual sense. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6). It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins (Heb 10:4). It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened…who have shared the Holy Spirit…if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance… (Heb 6:4-6). It is impossible to claim lack of sin in one’s life (1 Jo 1:8-10).
There is said to be at least one thing that is impossible for God. He will not lie (Heb 6:18). Another verse says that nothing is impossible for God (Lk 1:37). God could do anything but will not because He must remain true to who He is. It was impossible for death to keep its hold on Jesus because God raised Him from the dead (Acts 2:24).
There are many things that Christians cannot do on our own. We cannot pray as we should but the Holy Spirit Himself intercedes for us (Rom 8:26-27). We cannot force people to obey the gospel, but we can teach them what God demands of them (Mt 28:19-20) (2 Tim 2:2) (2 Tim 3:16-17). There is really not much we can do without divine help, but many things are given to us by the grace and promise of God (Jo 15:7). We can pray for others (Mt 5:44) (Eph 6:18) (Php 4:6). We can forgive others because the Lord forgives us (Col 3:13). We can trust and obey (Jo 15:10). We should focus not on what is impossible, rather on all the things that are now possible because of Jesus Christ.
-Jim Bailey