Desperate Men Ministries

  • About
  • Read
    • Encouraging Devotions and Lessons for Men
  • Watch
    • Teaching Videos from Walter and Ministry Endorsements
  • Listen
    • Podcast
    • Listen to Minute for Men
    • Subscribe to Minute for Men Radio Menistry and Radio Programs
  • Book Walter
  • Contact
    • Subscribe to Biblical Man-building Content
  • Give

The Greatest Impossibility of All – Eternal Life

January 18, 2018 By Walter Spires

image_pdfimage_print

The Greatest Impossibility of All – Eternal Life

Exchanging Difficulties for Impossibilities (Part Four)

But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”  (Matthew 19: 26 ESV)

While this sounds encouraging, the disciples were very disturbed over the whole conversation.  The preceding verses contained the discourse between Jesus and the rich young ruler who asked Jesus the question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”  He was ill-prepared for Jesus’ answer.  Most of us know the story well. (Matthew 19: 18-23)  The rich young man did a good job of justifying himself based on his obedience to the law – keeping the commandments.

The Difficulty:  When Jesus gave him the final qualification, the rich young man did not like the terms of the deal sheet (as we might say today)—go sell everything, give the proceeds to the poor, and come follow Me.  We are told he walked away grieving because he was very rich. Jesus took this teaching opp to say what has become troubling to many today because of our wealth as individuals and a nation because we are so financially blessed compared to most of the world.

“I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven…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.” (vs 23-24)   

The stunned disciples responded by asking Jesus who could be saved.  They must have thought the rich man wanted to know the answer to eternal life and lived a good life, obeying the commandments.  Just because he would not give up his possessions and become a follower of Jesus, he would be kept out of Heaven?  Really? Not really.

The Impossibility:  In the lesson verse today, Jesus gave His disciples the only correct answer to rich man’s question—one asked by millions who want to know how they can live forever – get to Heaven; avoid Hell (if either really exist—get “fire insurance” of a sort).

The rich young man gave the answer many do today.  I have been “good” and done “good things”.   As Christians, we know our best behavior and works do not qualify us for the Kingdom of God.  Jesus said it best, “with man this is impossible.”  Simply stated, that means you cannot work your way to Heaven, nor are you good enough to ever get there.

But Jesus also gave the simple answer to everyone who seeks the Truth with a contrite, repentant heart, “with God all things are possible.”  That is the great news of the Gospel.  When we had no way to God—lost in our sin and without hope, God made THE WAY.  It cannot be any more simply stated than the first verse taught to children in Christian churches.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”  (John 3: 16 NASB)

God made the ultimate impossibility possible through Christ.  The rich man’s issue was his money had become his ‘god’ and stood between him and becoming a follower of Christ.  Money is just one of many ‘gods’ that can do that.  Are there any in your life doing the same or keeping you from going deeper in your relationship with Him?  

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: An Encouraging Word for the Weakdays Tagged With: Christian men, Desperate, Faith, Hope, Read, Salvation

Free Gift from Walter

About Walter’s New Book

final-front-cover-design-for-website-use

“A better manhood starts with an admission and ends with a map. And that’s what excites me about this book! Walter Spires helps us to admit our desperateness (which is transformational for men) and then map our deliverance to higher ground. I highly recommend it.”

Robert Lewis, Founder, Men’s Fraternity 

“Walter has been ministering and teaching desperate men well for many years. His new book, “All Men Are Desperate Whether They Admit It or Not”, is an amazing culmination of the lessons God has taught him that he in turn teaches us. It will be encouraging for all and life changing for some.”

Brett James Cornelius, Singer, Songwriter, and Producer 

“I have met many desperate men inside prison walls that have little hope or reason for living. And now thanks to Walter Spires, we finally have a book that does not mince words, but calls it the way it is: All Men are Desperate. This is an absolutely indispensable resource for every man from all walks of life. From the incarcerated to the high achieving professional who thinks he is invincible, Walter convincingly demonstrates all men need Jesus, whether they know it or not.”

Raul Lopez, Executive Director, Men of Valor Prison Ministry

Preview Walter's New Book

Sign up To Receive A Free Subscription To Walter’s Lessons

Man holding open Bible in a wheat field

God has answers for desperate men from all walks of life…

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Book Walter to Speak

walter-speaking-at-nrm-screen-shot-2

Categories

  • Radio
  • Testimonial
  • Video
  • A Minute for Men Radio Spots
  • An Encouraging Word for the Weakdays
  • One Brick At A Time – Life Lessons for Building Biblical Christian Men
  • Blog

Tags

  • abortion
  • Accountability
  • Addict
  • Adultery
  • Advent
  • anger
  • Bible
  • Blame
  • born again
  • Christian men
  • Cross of Christ
  • crucifixion
  • Desperate
  • discouraged
  • donors
  • Encouragement
  • Endorsement
  • Faith
  • Family
  • Fear
  • Forgiveness
  • Friend
  • Give
  • giving
  • Hate
  • healing
  • Holy Spirit
  • Hope
  • Humility
  • hurting
  • Jesus
  • Joy
  • kindness
  • Listen
  • live like Jesus
  • Look Like Jesus
  • Love
  • Love of God
  • lust
  • Men
  • Money
  • Obedience
  • Past
  • Perfector
  • power
  • Praise
  • Prayer
  • Pride
  • Prisoner
  • Protector
  • Provider
  • Read
  • Repentance
  • right to life
  • Salvation
  • Secret Sins
  • serving
  • smell
  • Spiritual Growth
  • Suicide
  • temptation
  • thanks
  • transformation
  • Watch
  • Wealth
  • Word of God

Subscribe

 

God has answers for desperate men from all walks of life…

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Connect with Walter

Visit Us On FacebookVisit Us On TwitterVisit Us On GooglePlus

Give

Your gift is used to encourage and equip men from all walks of life, regardless of zip code, with life-changing biblical truth.

Donate To Desperate Men

 

Copyright © 2019 · Desperate Men