Mission (Im)possible

Virtual church. It's just not the same as gathering with friends for worship. This morning we were actually able to attend our church online. The last couple of weeks that was not an option. Our church, which instituted streaming the services during the Covid19 shutdowns, was having problems with the technology and we were not able to receive the signal. We do feel blessed that, although Dallas Church now has in person services (in fact they resumed in July, 2020), we also are able to stream the services for those who, for whatever reason, are not able to attend in person (that would include the immuno-compromised, like me). Still it is not the same. 

All of that being said, this morning, the technology was working, and one of the elders, Geoff, gave a sermon titled Mission Possible. That iconic reference, of course, is to the TV Series from the '60s and the later series of movies Mission Impossible. As a foundational Scripture reference, Geoff used Matthew 19:26, "But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 

This verse is not just a random statement. It comes from a rather sad story about a rich young ruler who came to see Jesus and asked Him, "What good deed must I do to to have eternal life?" Jesus reminded him of the Ten Commandments, and the young man assured Him that he had kept these. Then Jesus told him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 

The rich young man went away with great sorrow. Jesus tells the Disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. ²⁴ Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” ²⁶ But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

So, does this story indicate that we all need to take a vow of poverty in order to have eternal life? Let's examine that idea. Were there any rich men in Scripture who found favor with God? How about Abraham? He was chosen by God to be the patriarch of the Jewish people, God's chosen people, through whom He would bless the entire world. But Abraham had such wealth that he and his nephew Lot had to separate from each other, in order to have enough grazing area for their vast flocks and herds. 

What about Solomon? God called him the wisest among men. And yet he was also one of the wealthiest. And what of Solomon's father King David? God called him "a man after my own heart," and yet David not only possessed immense wealth and power, he was also a murderer and an adulterer. 

So, why did Jesus tell this rich, young ruler to give away his wealth? I suspect, based on the young man's reaction, that Jesus knew that the young man's wealth was all that was standing in the way of his having a rich, personal relationship with God. He was so attached to his wealth that it had become an idol. He worshiped his wealth and not his Creator. 

Jesus' statement about a camel going through the eye of a needle was to emphasize how difficult it is for us human beings to cast off our idols, once we have put our trust in them. What is your idol? Riches? Possessions? Alcohol or drugs? Sex? Another person, like your beloved? Would you be willing to give up your idol if God asked you? 

One of Geoff's points in the sermon this morning was that God may ask us to do things that we had never considered doing. And we may find those things scary, like becoming a missionary in a far off land. But many thousands of missionaries have heeded God's call to serve hurting people not only in far off lands, but also nearer to home. There are a number of local missions, like Union Gospel Mission, where people volunteer their time and energy to serve the homeless and hopeless among us. 

But Geoff's point was that there may be a mission that God calls you to that is even closer to home. How about the widow across the street, who is lonely and, perhaps, struggling to maintain her home or even to feed herself?  Or the couple who lost a child to cancer or miscarriage? Or your own children, who more than the things you can give them, need you and your time? The Mission Possible that Geoff talked about is the mission that God may ask you to do that is out of your comfort zone. 

I have been called sometimes to such a mission. And what I have found is that God will not call me to do anything that He will not equip me to do. I have also learned that those things that God has called me to that are frightening or seem impossible have turned out to be some of the most gratifying things I have ever done. All things are possible with God. 

After the virtual church service, Jill asked me, "Are you ever scared?" Then she clarified her question: "By the leukemia, I mean." As I thought about it, I realized that I have not been scared by the leukemia or even the thought that I might not survive it. I told Jill that the one thing that concerns me is whether I have provided for her adequately if I don't survive. God has blessed us with enough money to be very comfortable, but life is complex. A lot of the things I am good at are things that Jill doesn't enjoy or with which she doesn't have facility. The opposite is true as well. My concern is whether I have provided ways for Jill to deal with those things. 

Then she said, "I am not scared either. I was terrified when we got the diagnosis, but what I am learning is that I can rely on God and trust Him. He will carry me through the tough times." We agreed that the trials we have faced together, not the least of which is leukemia, have caused us to grow closer to each other and to God. In the very first post on this blog, I called leukemia an "impossible diagnosis." But my Lord Jesus Christ said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” He was right, of course.