Sermon # 39 - Possible With God Alone Series

We read in Mark 10:27, “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” (ESV)

Mankind has advanced in leaps and bounds in science, technology, industrialization and medicine. However, all of these progressions have still left us with no satisfactory answer to many of our questions. Think of this pandemic for example, wherein all of mankind was in confusion trying to find a solution, and it was evident that only God knew the intricacies of such a complex situation. Have you heard of someone undergoing treatment for a serious disease, and you might sometimes hear the doctors say that they have done all they could, and that the rest depended on God alone. Even in this 21st century there are umpteen things that we are helpless about, but remember that everything is possible with God Almighty.

The man who had a crucial question

Let us study the background to this verse. We read in Mark 10:17, “And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”” (ESV)

As Jesus was going on his usual journeys, a man came to Him with a very valid question. This man apparently was an extremely wealthy man. Somehow, this man seemed to realize that Jesus knew about things that were hidden to him. The man came running, and so it seems that he was in real haste to get an appropriate answer to his question. We also note that the man knelt down before Jesus, which implied that he was humble, and wanted to learn from the Lord. This question that the man posed to Jesus is probably one of the most important, and pressing questions in the hearts of many. He wanted to know as to what are those things that he would need to fulfill, so that he could attain eternal life.

Most people think of eternal life as that which one will experience after death, a life that has no end. Many songs that have been written and which we sing often indicate to us that eternal life in heaven is far off, and will be experienced only after one dies.

What is eternal life?

Just check out what Jesus taught about eternal life in John 17:3, “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (ESV)

This is not a head knowledge about God and Jesus Christ, but a knowledge that is based on an intimate relationship with the Lord.

You may have heard some who will boast about all the influential people whom they know. One man was bragging this way to another man, who stopped and asked him, ‘You say that you know these people, but do they know you?’ To know God, in a personal way is the eternal life that Jesus is talking about.

Knowing God and Known by God

When the Apostle Paul spoke about knowing God, this is how he explained it in Galatian 4:9, “But now that we truly know him and understand how deeply we’re loved by him, why would we, even for a moment, consider turning back to those weak and feeble principles of religion, as though we were still subject to them?”(TPT)

Paul talks about the blessing of knowing God, and also of being known, and loved by God. Therefore, to those who have such a relationship with God as our Father, the question Paul raises is, ‘how can we turn back to the meaningless principles of this world and become enslaved to them? The above mentioned version beautifully explains it to us that we have not only known God, but we have also understood the astounding love that God has for us.

Eternal life is therefore that personal, and intimate relationship that we have with God. Hence, eternal life is not one that is far off, but something that can be experienced right here and now. This relationship can be experienced in its fullest right here on earth.

What should I do to inherit eternal life?

The man who approached Jesus wanted to know all that he was supposed to do in order to inherit eternal life. Inheriting is very much different from getting something. For instance if someone wanted to acquire the wealth of an extremely rich man, there is in reality nothing that he or she can do in order to receive it. On the other hand, if the rich man decided to adopt that person to be his son or daughter, then they would become heirs to his inheritance without having to do anything. So also, if we want to inherit eternal life, the only way we can do so is when we become sons and daughters of the living God. To become children of God one must believe that Jesus came down to this earth, took all of our sins on Himself on the cross, has saved us, set us free from sin, and accept Him into their lives. The bible teaches us that everyone who had done so have been given the rights to become sons and daughters of God.