The things that are impossible with men are possible with God”  – Luke 18:27

We all have lost loved ones that seem to be hopeless situations and it is easy to lose heart and become discouraged.  Sometimes it seems salvation is for everyone but them, because there are too many obstacles blocking their sight and path to God.  If they would only sober up first, that would be a step in the right direction… if they only had the ability to listen..if they were only mentally stable…if they were only not so angry and bitter…if they were only more mature…if they were only away from that person who is influencing them and keeping them away from God, then…then there might be some hope for them, but they are not. They are hopeless.

Nothing is impossible with God and with God there are no impossible cases. In Luke 18:27 Jesus says, “The things that are impossible with men are possible with God” In fact, God loves impossible and hopeless cases because against their dark background, his glory is most gloriously displayed.

Watchman Nee in his book The Overcoming Life tells the story of a great Dr. who was struggling with his efforts to quit smoking. Having tried to quit many times over many years, he had determined it was impossible for him to quit and his own case was hopeless. Watchman Nee tells him to rejoice in his current condition and be glad which completely confounded the old physician so Watchman Nee explains:

“Dr. Shi, you are a doctor, and you have earned a great name in your profession. However, you have nothing to do with me because I am so healthy. You are the best doctor in Chefoo, and I am the most healthy person in Chefoo. I have no need of you, and you have no need of me. If you could quit smoking today, you would be to the Lord like I am to you; you would not need the Lord. But if I am weak and sick and no doctor can heal me and if you are a famous doctor and I come to you, you will have the opportunity and the chance to demonstrate your skill. Dr. Shi, would you dare to put up a sign outside of your clinic that said, `Terminal Cases Only’?” He said “Of course not. What if I could not take care of them?” I said, “Yet the Lord Jesus will not take any case unless it is terminal. The Lord Jesus will only heal the impossible cases. Are you an impossible case today?

For you, quitting smoking is an impossible case.” He agreed that it was an impossible case. “For four years, I have tried seven or eight times a year to quit. But I have not succeeded. If this is not an impossible case, what is it?” I said, “Very well. In that case, the Lord can heal you. Is that not something to rejoice about? You should thank the Lord because you are qualified to be His patient. Your case is a terminal case. You have to tell the Lord Jesus, ‘Lord, I cannot quit. I have no way to quit. Lord Jesus, I commit myself to You. ‘The Lord will accept such a patient. This is why you have to rejoice. He told me, “Brother Nee, don’t make fun of me. You have to realize that I am completely helpless.” At that point, he broke out in tears again

So Watchman Nee opens 2 Corinthians 12:9 and read to him.

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me”.

And then he asked:

“What should you do about your weakness? Should you weep? There is no need to weep. What then should you do? You should rejoice in your weakness. You should boast in your weakness. You should be happy to boast about your weakness because when you are weak, Christ’s power will tabernacle over you.” Then I challenged him, saying, “Can you go to the Lord Jesus today and say, `Lord Jesus, I have been smoking for over ten years. I thank You that I cannot quit smoking. Lord Jesus, I have tried to quit smoking for four years and have completely failed. I thank and praise You because I tried to quit seven or eight times last year without success. I thank You because I can do nothing. I thank You because I am weak. I thank You because I cannot make it. Lord Jesus, I thank You because I smoke. From now on, I cannot quit smoking, and I do not intend to quit smoking. I pray that You will quit for me. If You do not quit for me, I cannot quit by myself. I will not use my own strength to quit anymore. I simply let You quit for me. Thank and praise You, because Your power is perfected in my weaknesses.’ What if we kneel down to pray right now?”

They pray together. The doctor goes home still a smoker but who never smokes again. He never quit but Jesus did quit for him.

A great prayer and a great truth. God specializes in impossible cases. No one is beyond the Lord’s reach and He can reach them right where they are at right now. They aren’t the ones who need to move,  or re-position themselves  first to be within His reach. It is the Lord who moves.  No one is beyond hope. No one is beyond his reach. His arm is not too short that it cannot save. Your husband, your mother, your father, your daughter, your son, your sister, your brother or even yourself.  If you have tried everything else, maybe it’s time to try Him and call upon Him as your only hope of salvation and ask God to move in their lives and save them. That is what salvation is all about.

    Call on me in the day of trouble;
   I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” 

– Psa. 50:15