“The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”

Luke 18:18-43 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

A ruler questioned Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” ¹⁹ And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. ²⁰ You know the commandments, ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” ²¹ And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” ²² When Jesus heard this, He said to him, “One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” ²³ But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. ²⁴ And Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ For 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.” ²⁶ They who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” ²⁷ But He said, “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”

²⁸ Peter said, “Behold, we have left our own homes and followed You.” ²⁹ And He said to them, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, ³⁰ who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life.”

³¹ Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. ³² For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and mistreated and spit upon, ³³ and after they have scourged Him, they will kill Him; and the third day He will rise again.” ³⁴ But the disciples understood none of these things, and the meaning of this statement was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend the things that were said.

³⁵ As Jesus was approaching Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. ³⁶ Now hearing a crowd going by, he began to inquire what this was. ³⁷ They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. ³⁸ And he called out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” ³⁹ Those who led the way were sternly telling him to be quiet; but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” ⁴⁰ And Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him; and when he came near, He questioned him, ⁴¹ “What do you want Me to do for you?” And he said, “Lord, I want to regain my sight!” ⁴² And Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” ⁴³ Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him, glorifying God; and when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God.

Do we really comprehend the concept of eternity and of eternal life?  In today’s text Jesus is asked a question.   A ruler questioned Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”   Jesus responded saying:    “You know the commandments, ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” When Jesus heard this, He said to him, “One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. And Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! For 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.” They who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” But He said, “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”   If the ruler had really understood eternity and eternal life would he not have been willing to do what Jesus said? Even a long full life on earth, eighty – one hundred years, is but a twinkling in the scheme of eternity. Why do we place so much of a higher value and priority on this time than on eternity. Is it that we don’t value eternal life? Or is it that we want both? We want to live now, doing and enjoying the things of the world which we know and hope that we will find a way to eternal life. If someone offered you one thousand dollars today or one hundred a month for ten years which would you take? Many people would take the one thousand now because they do not have confidence in the future. The world believes the adage that a bird in hand is worth two in the bush. There is no guarantee that a person will live to see the even the second installment. Even more, there is the question or the lack of confidence that the one who is making the promise will hold to the agreement. Those same rationales affect the choices of many people regarding their choices of life and eternity. Many choose to live for what is known rather than for what is unknown.

Look again at what it says:   “How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! For 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.” They who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” But He said, “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”     Wealth is temporary. So far as we know, no one has been able to find a way to take their things with them. The pharaohs of Egypt, who were buried with their vast treasures are no longer using the wealth they buried with them. Neither are any of the wealthiest people the world has ever known. Neither though has anyone who valued and prioritized the things of this world over the things of eternity been able to hold on to them. If we would compare even those of moderate wealth to those who were rich in Jesus day, we would surely have to admit that we have more things in our lives than they did. The question for all of us becomes not only what do we value, but in who and what do we believe and have confidence. Jesus says: “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”   Regarding salvation and eternal life, it is impossible with people, but possible with God because:  “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”  (John 3:16)  It is important that we recognize that eternal life comes not from believing about Jesus, that He lived, that He died and even that He was raised from death to live again. Eternal life is given to those who believe in Jesus. To believe in someone is much more than to believe about them. To believe in Jesus means to have confidence in Him. It means to put complete trust in Him. It means more than believing that He died for sins. It means believing that He died for my sins. It means trusting what He says and doing what He asks. To believe in Jesus we must be willing to respond yes Lord when He says, follow Me.

I am not suggesting that we all should sell all that we have. Jesus does not ask that of most people. Like the rich ruler, Jesus does also ask a question regarding eternal life. In Matthew 16:26 He asks:  “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”    If we, like the ruler, would ask what we need to do to inherit eternal life, we need to be ready to answer Jesus when He asks what we would exchange for our soul. Here’s the thing about what is possible and what is impossible with and for people.  In Luke 12:25-31 Jesus says:   “Which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life’s span? If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith! And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.”    How much really can any of us control even the things which happen in our own lives, even the very little things? Who among us does not know someone who lost their wealth, or their family or their life in what seemed the twinkling of an eye? Is it really possible for us to control the things that happen in the world? Are we not better off to put our trust and our confidence in one who can? Jesus doesn’t really often require that we give up things in this life. In fact in today’s text He says:  “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life.”   In John 10:10 Jesus says:  “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”  With Jesus then, we do get both, things now and eternity. Jesus doesn’t want us to give up things. He wants to give us abundance, even more things. All He asks us to give up, is control, control over things which really are impossible for us to control. What shall we do for eternal life?  Believe in Jesus.  Seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ; precious Holy Spirit; thank You for eternal and abundant life given to us by believing in Christ. I choose to trust and believe in You. I choose to believe in what is possible with You rather than what is impossible for me. I will follow You. I will seek Your kingdom and I will trust in You for all that I need, believing in the abundance You will provide. Thank you for the gift of eternal life which comes not through what I do or even through my own understanding, but rather through believing in You.   Amen.