With God All Things Are Possible

Matthew 19:26. With man, this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible.

What is your favorite book to read? In my house, I have read one book at least 10 times in the last 3 weeks. Can you guess what it is? You probably think I’m going to say “the Bible” because I’m a pastor, and pastors always talking about how important it is to read the Bible. It is true that reading the Bible is very important, but that is not the book I’m talking about. In my house, I have read this book at least 10 times in the last 3 weeks. The book is entitled “Superheroes, Unlimited!” It’s a short book – about 10 pages. Lots of pictures of superheroes. It talks about all the different superheroes and there special powers – Superman can fly. Spiderman uses his web. Batman has his utility belt with those gadgets. Green Lantern has his power ring. “Superheroes, Unlimited!”

Can you guess why I read this book so much? It’s not because it’s my favorite book. To be honest, I’m tired of this book. But my 3 year old son loves it. Every night, my three-year-old boy - before he goes to bed, will get his favorite book and ask me to read it to him. He loves superheroes. He loves imagining people who have special powers, people who can do anything. They fight the bad guys. They always win. Anything is possible, if you are a superhero. You can do anything, and my little son likes to think about that.

This year’s graduating class picked a class verse from the Bible, my real favorite book, that talks about how anything is possible, with God. God is a real-life superhero. He can really do anything. From Matthew 19: “With God, all things are possible,” Jesus said. What a great choice of a Bible verse to consider, on a graduation night. Tonight we’re going to talk about how all things are possible, with God. This isn’t some pretend idea that comes out of a super-hero book. This is real. You believe in a God who is real. And this very real God can do anything – for you – and he as you step into the future, you can trust him. Because with him, all things are possible. Let’s think about this verse tonight, as we consider your graduation from St. Peter’s Lutheran grade school.

Do you know why Jesus said these words? The disciples were talking about how difficult it was for a sinful person to get to heaven. Jesus had just told them that it’s very difficult for anyone who loves money to go to heaven – it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for someone who loves money to go to heaven. When the disciples heard this, they were astonished. Everyone struggles with a love for money. Everyone struggles with sin. That’s why the disciples asked, “Who then, can be saved?” How can anyone get to heaven? We’re all so sinful, all the time. And that’s when Jesus said, “With man, this is impossible.”

Just stop there and think about what Jesus is saying. It’s impossible for a sinful human being to go to heaven, based on their own good works, their own life. Maybe you’ve heard people say, “I’m just trying to be a good person, and then God will let me into heaven.” Jesus says, no – it doesn’t work that way. It’s impossible. The Bible never says, “If you are a good person and try really hard, you will go to heaven. The Bible does say, that if you want to earn your way to heaven – fine – here’s how you do it - be perfect. Never be greedy. Never have any bad thoughts. Never have any bad words come out of your mouth. Always be perfect. Can you do that? No. Neither can I. Nobody can. Each one of us was born with original sin. And as we grow up, we sin more and more every day. We can never be perfect. And that’s why Jesus said, “With man, this – going to heaven - is impossible.”

But then Jesus said, “With God, all things are possible.” All things. That includes getting a sinful person like you and me into a perfect heaven. Here’s a test question for you graduates – how does a sinful person get into a perfect heaven? By trusting in Jesus Christ, who died on a cross for you, who rose from the dead, and who lives and rules eternally. You are going to heaven someday. You are a child of God right now. God loves you today, and forever, because of the sacrifice of his Son, Jesus Christ. Isn’t that amazing? With God, all things are possible. Of all the things you have learned over the last bunch of years, attending this Christian school, nothing is more important than this. You know, and you believe, and you trust in Jesus Christ, the Savior of all mankind – of all the thousands of things you have learned in this grade school, nothing is more important than this.