The Impossible Is Indispensable Series

The concept of the impossible changes from generation to

generation. Much of what we do today was once thought to be

impossible. Because of this, we are more cautious today in what we

include in the category of the impossible. We are no longer quick to

say it can't be done. What is apparently impossible no longer causes

a defeatist attitude in which no attempt is even made. Men go ahead

and often discover that what was thought to be impossible is not

only possible, but even indispensable to further progress. To

attempt the impossible is essential for growth in the scientific, social,

and spiritual realms, for in each we find that what is apparently

impossible is absolutely indispensable. We know for example that

deadly poisons such as sodium and chlorine are incompatible with life,

and yet, their combination which makes salt is necessary for life.

In other words, the very elements that can make the ongoing of life

impossible are indispensable for the ongoing of life.

We know that oxygen is highly flammable, and is essential to the

existence of fire, and that hydrogen will also readily burn.

A commonsense conclusion based on these facts would be,

that it is impossible to put out a fire with two such flammable gases,

but in reality, they are the two most indispensable fire fighting

elements, for their combination makes H20, or water. So we add

two poisons and get life preserving salt; we add two flammable

gases, and get a fire extinguisher.

Physical reality is filled with mysterious paradoxes, and so it

ought not be surprising when we find them in the spiritual realm.

The cross is the most magnificent of paradoxes. This greatest of

man's acts of evil and hatred is the means whereby God redeemed us

from evil and hate. It is both a symbol of man's sin, and of God's

salvation. Life from death would seem to be impossible, but the

death of Christ was indispensable if we were to have eternal life. In

all realms of reality we find that the paradoxical and apparently

impossible are very real. In verse 9 Paul is speaking of an

indispensable impossibility in the Christian life, for in this verse he

brings out the fact that-

I. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO EXPRESS AN ADEQUATE THANKS TO GOD.

Alfred Plummer in his study of the Greek says, "The question

implies that an adequate thanksgiving is impossible." When Paul

heard the good news that these Christians did not lose their faith

when confronted with temptation and tribulation, he was so

overjoyed he was tongue-tied in the presence of God. He didn't

know what to say because he was so thankful.

Certainly all of us have had the experience of not knowing how to

express our gratitude. Thanks sometimes seems so inadequate, and

even when we add thanks so very much, and thanks a million, it

leaves us with a sense of having very poorly expressed how we feel.

How much more impossible is it to express our thanks to God for

His mercy, love, and blessings? Paul had this experience time and

time again, and on one occasion when he was considering the

greatest of all God's gifts, he burst out with a shout, "Thanks be to

God for His inexpressible gift." The point is, Paul knew it was

impossible to ever thank God enough. He knew there was no way

that human language could adequately express the thanks due unto

God, but he did not let the fact that it was impossible stop him from

making the attempt. On the contrary, thanksgiving was an

indispensable part of his life.

The gift of God was inexpressible, but that did not stop Paul from

spending his whole life trying to express it. Paul could never thank

God enough for the way He used him to establish churches and win

men to Christ, but he never ceased to try.

Rom. 1:8, "I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all...."

I Cor. 1:4, "I thank my God always on your behalf..."

Eph. 1:16, "..Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of

you in my prayers."

Phil. 1:3, "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you."

Col. 1:3, "We give thanks to God....praying always for you."

I Thess. 5:18, "In everything give thanks, for this is the will of

God...."

Paul knew it was impossible to be thankful enough, but

nevertheless, it is indispensable in the life of one who loves Christ.

Paul was a grateful man, and that is why he was a great man. Paul

was never complaining in spite of all the problems he had. He was

so busy attempting to express the inexpressible, and do the

impossible, there was no time left for negative trivialities.

When thou hast truly thanked thy God