If you have your Bibles with you - you can turn with me to Matthew 19.  We’re going go to start at verse Matthew 19 - verse 16.  If you’ve got your Bibles open you can walk with me through this - which is a pretty familiar scene - and we will come to verse 26 - which is the verse we want to emphasize this morning.

Matthew 19 - Jesus has traveled down from the Sea of Galilee - to a place just east of the Jordan River.  While Jesus is teaching there - verse 16 - a man runs up to Jesus - kneels before Him - and asks, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?”

By reading through Mark and Luke’s record of this event - we know that this man was probably a rich young aristocrat.  He’s very wealthy - powerful - a man of influence - able to buy and control anything he wants.  He’s probably a member of some ruling council - a mover and shaker - upwardly mobile.  This wealthy young man has been listening to Jesus’ teaching - and about what it takes to enter the Kingdom of God - and he senses that there’s something he doesn’t possess - something that Jesus offers.

Verse 17 - And He - Jesus - said to Him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good?  There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

In other words - “Have you obeyed what God has already said?  Have you kept God’s commandments?”

The young man’s response is beautiful.  Without hesitation he says, “Which ones?”

Its almost a challenge.  “Name one.  I’ve kept them all.”

Verse 18 - And Jesus said, “You shall not commit murder.  You shall not commit adultery.  You shall not steal.  You shall not bear false witness.  Honor your father and mother.  And, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Commandments that focus on personal relationships - that focus on the attitude of our heart towards others.

The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept.  What am I still lacking”

There’s a story told about Al Gore, Senator Obama, and Bill Gates dying in an airplane crash.  They arrive in heaven to find God on His throne.

When God asks Al Gore what he believes in, Al Gore answers, “Well, I believe that the internal combustion engine is the root of all evil, and that if we don’t eliminate carbon emissions the whole earth is going to become one large greenhouse and we’ll all die because of global warming.”

God says, “OK, come and sit at my left.”

Then God asks Senator Obama what he believes in.  “Well,” says Senator Obama, “I believe in change.  We need to change.  We need to change to something different.  If we don’t change things then we’re just going to have the same old people doing the same old things.”

God nods and says, “Come sit at my right.”

And then He asks, “Bill Gates, what do you believe?”

Bill Gates says, “I believe, you’re in my chair.”

On one hand there’s a huge pride behind this young man’s answer to Jesus.  Perhaps somewhat justified. 

Here’s an open-hearted -  morally excellent - young man.  Since the point in a young Jewish boy’s life when he became responsible to live by God’s commandments - he’s been obedient.  Which of us could make such a claim?  He’s been sincerely seeking the Kingdom of God. 

And yet - on the other hand - he admits that there’s something still lacking.  He’s tried everything religiously that he knows how to do and he’s still come up short.  He doesn’t have what Jesus is teaching about.  He’s looking for that last key thing to do that will open up to him eternal life.

Jesus observing him and his answer - speaks to him in love.  Here’s a man who’s obedient - he’s teachable - he’s seeking after God.

Jesus said to him - verse 21 - “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”  But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.

If you had 1% of the interest of Bill Gate’s money - would you be depressed?  Sorrowful?  Grieving?

The young man goes away grieving.  Why?  Because he owned much property?  Or because of what that property meant to him?

Jesus just nails this guy.  Pierces his heart.  This man had glimpsed a quality of life that he lacked - an emptiness within his spirit he couldn’t fill.  He wanted it.  But he was sorrowful, because he also knew, at the words of Jesus, that he had to surrender everything - everything he controlled his life with - to have it.  There’s no way to serve two masters.  We can only surrender to one.

Verse 23 - And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Not because they’re wealthy - but because wealth represents self-control over our lives - our security - what we cling to and trust in - and that’s very hard for us to surrender.

Verse 24:  Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

Consider the image - a needle - make it a big needle - with an eye you can put a piece of string through.  Try to imagine a huge lumpy, humpy camel trying to squeeze through a needle’s eye.  We get the picture the disciples got.  Jesus is saying to them, “It’s impossible.”  And that’s what they thought.

When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?”

And looking at them - Notice that.  Jesus may have been looking at the departing young man when he made his comments about rich people and the camel.  But He turns to the disciples - eye to eye contact.  Here’s His bottom line point.  They - we - need to get this. 

And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Underline that statement.  Its one of the most significant truths in Scripture.  With people - with us - impossible.  With God - possible.  Say that with me,  “With us - impossible.  With God - possible.”

There are two truths here that we must get.  We must understand.  Two lessons we need to learn that are foundational to life.

First lesson:  With us - impossible.  With us - what?  Impossible.  To come to salvation and to follow Jesus in living life as God intends for us to live life - for us - is impossible.

That’s a hard lesson for us to learn.  Isn’t it?  Way too often we’re like that young man - seeking but trapped by our own pride - trusting our understanding of life.

Remember Peter?  3 years he followed Jesus around Judea and Galilee and Samaria - traveled dusty roads - almost drowned trying to walk on water - sleeping under the stars - watching Jesus - listening to Jesus - learning from Jesus - learned what moved Jesus’ heart.

Peter knew Jesus.  Knew what He sounded like.  What He felt like.  Knew the color of His eyes.  The color of His skin.  Knew what it was like to hear Jesus laugh and to feel Him weep.  Knew if He snored at night.  What His favorite foods were.  That’s knowing someone.  A quality of relationship with Jesus we all long for.

The night Jesus was betrayed - standing out on the Mount of Olives - what did Peter say to Jesus?  “Even if everyone else deserts you I won’t.  Even if I have to die with You I won’t deny You.”  (Matthew 26:33-35)  Pretty self-confident.

That night Peter learned - as the rooster crowed - as Peter three times denied that he even knew Jesus - Peter learned that with us - what?  Impossible.

We say to our self, “Self, I’m regenerate.  I’m a follower of Jesus.  I’ve got the Holy Spirit within me.  I’ve got Jesus helping me.  I can do this.  I’ve just got to pray harder.  If I have more faith.  If I’m more committed.  More disciplined.  More dedicated.”

But, we know - because of our actions - the things we hear coming out of our mouths - the things we feel deep down - what flashes through our minds - that we live in failure.  Despair.  Constantly struggling against sin.  We realize that we’re lacking.  Inadequate to live the life we’re called to live.

We can fight against this.  We can choose to deny it.  But its a truth.  A reality we can’t get around.

Paul writes in Romans 7 - the chapter where Paul confesses his own struggle with this truth.  Paul writes in Romans 7 that what he wants to do he doesn’t do.  In reality he ends up doing the very evil things that he doesn't want to do.  I will to do what is right but I can’t do it.

Then in Romans 7:22 - Paul writes:  “For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man.”

Put simply:  God’s law - the very commands that Jesus quoted and this young man lived by - God’s written down standard of how we’re suppose to live - God’s law simply points out that we don’t have what it takes.

Paul writes - that’s something to be joyful about.  The honesty of God - identifying our illness.  At least knowing what’s wrong.  We’re sick - struck down by this terminal disease of sin.  Joyfully we agree.  We need a cure.

That’s a humbling lesson for us to learn.  More than just intellectually saying, “Yeah.  I understand that.”  But living out that lesson in how we live our lives.  We need to agree with God.  With us - what?  Impossible.

Second lesson:  With God - possible.  Say that with me, “With God - possible.”  What is impossible with men is possible with God.

For just a moment - ponder with me - ponder the implications of that truth.

God - by His almighty power - God creates all that is - everything that we see around us and beyond - this world - light - plants - animals - fish - planets - stars - everything - simply because He wills it.  God - by His power - creates mankind.  Us.

God says to Abraham - His creation, “I am God almighty; walk before Me, and be blameless.”  (Genesis 17:1).  God teaching Abraham what it means to live life trusting in God’s power.

The almighty God does this over and over in the lives of His people.  Noah building an ark.  Moses leading God’s people out of Egypt.  Abraham journeying to Canaan - sacrificing Isaac.  Joshua leading God’s people into the Promised Land.  David unifying a kingdom.  Solomon building the temple.  Nehemiah rebuilding a wall.

When the angel Gabriel speaks to Mary - tells her that she - a virgin - will conceive and bear the Son of God.  Mary asks, “How?”

Gabriel tells her, “Nothing will be impossible with God.”  (Luke 1:37)

From Genesis to Revelation - there’s example after example - the testimony of men and women - God’s people - who have trusted in the almighty God to accomplish the impossible in them and through them.  And He has.  Done what is impossible for us.

1 Corinthians 6:14 says that God - by His power - has raised Jesus from the dead - and God - by His power - will raise us from the dead.

Andrew Murray - the great South African Evangelist of a few generations back - Andrew Murray wrote this, “The whole of Christianity is a work of God’s omnipotence.” (1)  Our very ability to know God - to enter into a saving relationship with Him - it all comes because the almighty God wills it to be so.  

Paul writes in Philippians 2:13:  “For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”

Grab this:  Its God - who by His power - God who accomplishes what He wills to accomplish in us and through us - even the very basis - the possibility of a relationship with Him. 

From our side - weakness - inadequacy - failure.

From God’s side - power - adequacy - victory.

That’s a huge lesson for us to learn.  More than just intellectually saying, “Yeah.  I understand that.”  But living out that lesson in how we live our lives.  What we need is God Almighty - His power - at work in us to accomplish what we cannot.

When I worked with Hume Lake Christian Camps - we used have a thing called an attitude check - an attitude adjustment question.  Someone would go off complaining about something.  “I can’t believe they did that.  That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen.  The most unchristian…”  Someone would say, “Attitude check.”

Which was really irritating because complaining feels good.  Doesn’t it?  But we knew we had to check and change our attitude - attitude adjustment.

With us - impossible.  With God - possible.  There’s a faith adjustment question there.  Here it is:  If all things are possible with God.  Why are we still trying to do the impossible?

Work is killing us.  The attitudes of people we work with.  The environment we work in.  Our income is shrinking.  The bills are due.  We’re struggling and stressing because we think the total responsibility for all this is on our shoulders.

We’re trying everything we know how to do to keep the family together - to save our marriage - to deal with the kids - aging parents - we’re struggling and stressing like the answers are all up to us.

Are we tracking?

We’ve got wounds and hurts and issues and sins from the past - anxieties and stresses and psychosis that keep nailing us mentally and physically - tearing at us and dragging us down - we’re torn by guilt and depression as if the only answers lie within us and we’ve got to get it all sorted out.

We’re trying so hard to live morally upright lives.  Living the way we know God wants us to live.  To serve Him.  To find meaning for our lives.  For a few hours on Sunday we pretend we’ve got it all together.  But we struggle - as if a relationship with God depends on us.

Paul - writing to the Corinthian church about the ultimate issues in life - our inadequacy and failure and the inevitable death - Paul writes, “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57).

Why are we trying to do the impossible - if victory over all that is impossible for us - if victory has already been made possible by the Almighty God through His Son Jesus?

When we begin to cry out to God - with intense longing - realizing our inadequacy and failure - crying out, “God how can I be freed from all this?”

When we can agree with God that we’re desperate for what He offers us in Jesus our Savior.

When we begin to grab hold of the reality that life with God isn’t possible unless God creates His life within us.

When we begin to realize that even absolute surrender to God isn’t possible without God accomplishing that surrender within us.

When we can come to the point of surrender and say, “I have nothing to offer.  I am yours.  I’m even incapable of surrender.  God help me!  Please take control.”

Then we begin to be at that place where we’re open to God to will and to work within us.

Bottom line question:  “Who’s on the throne of your life?”  Who’s in control.  Who are you trusting?  If we’re on the throne - trusting ourselves  -going alone or doing as much as we can and then asking God to help us while we try to live for Him - then we’re in serious - serious - trouble.

God on the throne is something different.  In a world where - just looking around - we’re surrounded by sin and sorrow - death and decay - failure - if God is on the throne - remember that God is the Almighty God at work in our lives - that Jesus has conquered over all this - that Jesus is the returning Lord of lords and King of kings coming to set all things right and to take us into eternity with Him.  He is the answer - our answer - to every question and every struggle we have.

With us - impossible.  With God - possible. 

_____________________

1. Andrew Murray, Absolute Surrender, The Moody Press, 1897