No Such Thing as Mission Impossible

Tuesday, September 17, 2002

"Good morning, Mr. Phelps." If you were a fan of the classic TV series, "Mission Impossible," you know those words always began a riveting adventure. Jim Phelps, the head of the Mission Impossible Force, would listen to a tape, outlining this assignment that seemed, well, impossible. Key word - "seemed." He would immediately begin building a team of specialists and concocting this elaborate, perfectly-timed plan to do what couldn't be done. And every time, yep, they got it done.

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "No Such Thing as Mission Impossible."

That's the conclusion you reached after watching that show for a while. For them, there was no such thing as Mission Impossible. That's great fantasy stuff. It's a much greater reality when it comes to rescue missions undertaken by the One of whom the Bible says, "For with God, nothing shall be impossible." (Luke 1:37) That might be important for you to know right now - because there is a person in your life that seems beyond His reach. There is no such person.

The living proof of that is in our word for today from the Word of God. Saul, the man leading the crusade to eradicate the early Christians, is on the way from Jerusalem to Damascus to round up more of these hated believers. Acts 9:3 says, "As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?' 'Who are You, Lord?" Saul asked. 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting...'"

After this dramatic encounter with Jesus, the Bible says, "Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind..." You probably know that this persecutor of Jesus' followers will ultimately become the greatest proclaimer of Jesus in the world - the world-changing Apostle Paul.

I can't imagine anyone in the world of the early Christians whom they would have considered a greater "mission impossible." But there's no such thing when it comes to God. Including that person in your life who seems to be so hard, so far from God, so impossible to get through to. In fact, maybe you've almost stopped believing, stopped seeking opportunities to point them in Jesus' direction, maybe even stopped praying much for them.

Don't stop going to God on their behalf. Ask God, "Lord, do whatever it takes to get through to their heart." He may have to knock them off their high horse, as He did Saul. He may have to bring them to a position where they're helpless, as He did with Saul. He may have to show up dramatically in front of them, as He did with Saul. But Jesus didn't die for them just to give up on them now.

As you pray, this very moment, Jesus, the ultimate "Mission Impossible" Man is moving people and events to bring someone you love face-to-face with Him. You may not even be here for the answer to your prayers, but God says in Galatians 6:9, "we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Mission Impossible? For Jesus, there's no such thing.