God Of The Impossible
Or
A Hundredfold Eternal Investment
Sunday April 24, 2022
Scripture To Consider:
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘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.’”
“When Jesus’ disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, ‘Who then can be saved?’ But Jesus looked at them, and said to them, ‘With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’”
“Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, ‘See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore, what shall we have?’ So Jesus said to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.’” Matthew 19.23-30
Something To Consider:
We must keep in mind that the overwhelming thought of that day was that the rich were blessed by God because they were righteous. Jesus clears away some of the fog that even remains today on this issue, by saying, “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 that for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
I can visualize Jesus borrowing a nearby tent maker’s needle and holding it up to the tail of a camel as an outrageous object lesson that might have caused an outburst of laughter, but helped to prove His point. Riches by no means guarantee an entrance into the kingdom of God.
David the song writer of Israel affirmed in Psalm 37.16, “A little that a righteous man [or woman] has is better than the riches of many wicked.” The prophet Jeremiah declared in Jeremiah 9.23, “Let not the rich man glory in his riches.” And yet, how often do we witness rich men and rich women acting as if they glory in their riches?
In His sermon on the mount, Jesus instructed in Matthew 6.19-21; “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures [riches] on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” But, in order for us to be willing to lay up treasure in heaven we must be willing to seek first God’s kingdom rather than the establishing of our own kingdom here on earth. It is a matter of what is our priority, God’s kingdom, or our crumbling earthly kingdom!
Something Else To Consider:
Some have tried to explain away the importance of what Jesus was saying by directing our attention to a small entrance in the outside walls of most cities, known as the eye of the needle. And after the main gates of the city were closed at night, a rider could dismount his camel and remove all cargo, and with help from others in front and in back, and with the camel down on its knees, and with enough hard work and extreme effort they could push and pull themselves and the camel through the eye of the needle.
But we are told by Matthew, “When the disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, ‘Who then can be saved?’” The disciples fully understood Jesus! The disciples understood Jesus was not talking about a rich man or anyone working hard to earn an entrance into the kingdom or to earn eternal life. What is it that we understand Jesus to have declared?
Jesus was saying that if a man or woman thinks more of their riches than of following Jesus, then this life on earth is as close to heaven as their riches will ever get them. For Jesus said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Can a rich man or rich woman be saved? Yes, it is hard according to Jesus, but our God is the God of the impossible!
Those who give up their riches for God, gain for themselves peace and contentment in this life and a hundredfold eternal investment. That is according to Jesus! But most people are not willing to take Jesus at His Word. Therefore, the majority of people continue to lay up, treasures on earth where both moth and rust continue the destroying and decaying process.
Something More To Consider:
What event, situation, or consequence in our lives today, do we need the involvement of the God of the impossible? How many of us are in need for God to intervene in our marriage? How many of us are in need of God’s help in our searching for a godly spouse? How many of us may be involved in a legal matter that we cannot fix or alter the outcome? Thank the Lord, that our God is a God of the impossible.
How many of us are facing the possibility of financial ruin or worse, spiritual bankruptcy? Our God is able to redirect the riches of this world in such a way as to rescue us if that is His will for our lives. Or, is His will for our lives to possibly teach us some basic financial or spiritual responsibility that we have neglected to learn?
A Few Final Words:
The answer to any of these dilemmas is our seeking first God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness and righteous will for our lives! Maybe we have been passed over for a promotion or pay raise. Have we ever considered how many people desire to simply have a place of employment to go to each day to help them be more responsible for their family needs and the needs of others less fortunate?
Yes, God is the God of the impossible, but, are we praying for His will to be done on earth, or for our own will to be done? Are we seeking His kingdom or are we seeking the furthering of our own earthly kingdoms? There is an eternal investment we should be investing in every day of our lives.
Therefore, are we laying up treasures in heaven, or here on earth, of which will decay, and pass away. Serving the God of the impossible creates for each of us an eternal investment that cannot be taken away by any economic, financial, or political collapse. And that financial collapse is coming. The nations of this world cannot continue to reject God and the Word of God without a correction created by God Himself.
And according to our Scripture to consider, “But Jesus looked at them and said to them, ‘With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’” What will it take for us to finally believe Jesus? What will it take for us to finally believe the written and preserved Word of God?
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, may our focus be on our eternal investment and not on the pleasure of sin for a season that riches can afford. Help us to focus our earthly attention on heavenly things and to be found looking unto Jesus our great and exceeding reward. In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 