Four Impossible Things
—Involving God
It is impossible to flee from God or hide from him. It is impossible to serve both God and money. It is impossible to love God and hate another person. It is impossible to be told a lie by God. This lesson is about those four impossibilities.
1 To Flee or Hide from God
Jonah 1:1-15, Hebrews 4:13
One thing that is definitely impossible
"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account" (Hebrews 4:13 BSB)
Jonah thought he could get away from God and be free of God’s demands upon him. However he soon found out that this was impossible (Jonah 1:1-15).
God is everywhere and he sees everything. He knows your inmost thoughts and your most secret schemes. You cannot possibly hide anything from him.
David says to God, "Where can I go to escape your Spirit?" The poem goes on to say that God is present in the heavens, in Sheol, in the farthest sea, and even in the darkness. You cannot hide from God (Psalm 139:7-12)
It is impossible to get away from God and to avoid giving account of yourself to him. Paul used this fact in his discourse on judging others. He said, "We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ... each of us shall give account of himself to God" (Romans 14:10-12).
2 To Serve Both God and Money
Matthew 6:24, 1Timothy 6:10
The Bible is clear that money and wealth should be low down on the list of things to which we dedicate ourselves. We should give priority to loving God and serving him.
"No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money... Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness..." (Matthew 6:24,33 BSB)
"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs" (1Timothy 6:10 ESV).
The parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-21) tells the story of a man who loved money. He took his inheritance, left his loving father, and went off to pursue his own pleasure. After a while he regretted this and returned to his Father. He realised that he could not possibly be devoted to both his father and the money. His devotion to the money, and the pleasures it offered, had caused him to lose his relationship with his father.
Just as people are foolish to think they can escape from God, so are people foolish to think they can give token acknowledgement to God while spending inordinate time and energy making money. They don't understand that their lives are "but a vapour that appears for a little while and then vanishes away" (James 4:14).
3 To Love God and Hate Another
1John 4:20, Matthew 5:23-24
The first person to hate another was Cain. He was so angry with his brother Abel that he killed him (Genesis 4:8). Today, hatred is a poison in this world, and the cause of many deaths. Worse still, some of those who are hateful to others, even to the point of murder, will claim they are doing God’s will.
John says, "¶ If somebody says, 'I love God' but hates his brother, he is a liar" (1John 4:20).
Jesus says, "Whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of judgment" (Matthew 5:23-24 NKJV).
Those who truly love God will also love others; and where there is enmity they will seek remedy and reconciliation in longsuffering, justice, and truth. It is impossible to love and please God through hateful anger against others.
NOTE: Of course we ought to hate sin and abhor evil. Hypocrisy and injustice can make us righteously angry. There is no inconsistency in hating a deed while loving the doer.
4 To be Told a Lie by God
Romans 3:4; Hebrews 6:18
Paul took this attitude to God’s word: "Let God be true and every man a liar" (Romans 3:4).
The writer to the Hebrews based his teaching on the fact that "It is impossible for God to lie" (Hebrews 6:18).
It is common today to hear people deny some part of God’s word and accept another part. It's as though they think we can rewrite or redact the scriptures to suit current popular beliefs and ideologies.
The New Testament changes some things that are in the Old Testament, but these changes are made and ratified within the Bible itself. The Bible presents an unfolding narrative of truth. Every part of it is true in its proper place, time, and context. Any modern alterations are spurious.
It is a blessing to us that God cannot lie, because we are constantly bombarded with lies and deception. Thank God that his word stands out from all of this and is perfectly true.