God’s Omnipotence: There’s Nothing I Can’t Do

For nothing is impossible with God. – Luke 1:37

If ever there was something to rejoice about in the face of life’s most dismal and disillusioning things is God’s unimaginable power. It’s really beyond our mind’s ability even to grasp the extent of his great force, and we can only begin to approach it by contemplating what we now know about the universe. The ancient Hebrews knew that the whole thing was big and complex, but they never knew how big and complex. Yet even the little they knew made them appreciate how powerful the Creator was to make it in the first place.

The sizes and distances of things is so great that we can’t even find the right numbers to use in describing it all. And when we try to imagine the power it took in putting it together, it too exceeds our ability. Yet, this literally unlimited power is what we are offered as part of our inheritance as believers.

One day we’ll enjoy the full benefits of God’s power and will share a good portion of it in our day-to-day existence. That’s part of what resurrection life means. Thank God that most of that power has been taken out of our hands due to the fact that we are fallen and would misuse it terribly if we had it right now.

But what’s worth talking about is that even in our fallen state we can still gain access to God’s power made available through his Son Jesus. Through him we can ask God for whatever power (and as much as we need) to do his will on earth. Jesus taught that everything he did was simply the Father doing it through him, and that as his disciples we too will do great, unimaginable things as we daily and hourly depend upon him (Jn. 14:12).

In fact, we’re expected to produce this kind of life for others to see. How else will they know that the whole business of God’s kingdom is real? There’s nothing more unexciting and less inspiring than a church that’s always talking about extraordinary life, but produces little, if any, of it.

And if we want to see that sort of power occurring around us, then we need to go where it’s happening. Where it isn’t happening is where we are seeking our own will, our own glory and advancement, and our own plans. So we needn’t be surprised to find that our lives are powerless when on the wrong track.

But we can see the manifestations of God’s universe-creating force when fully engaged in his program and plan. How do we know this? We know it by observing those who’ve done it. We can interview old missionaries, we can read the Bible and biographies of those who’ve already gone out into the world to obey Jesus’ commands, we can talk to those who’ve spent their lives in service to God and the world by attempting impossible things.

Just think about it. When believers report that, “nothing is impossible with God,” they really do mean it—nothing. The word impossible doesn’t even apply when talking about God and his involvement in the world. So when we believers are planning out our lives or strategizing about the church’s task in the world, we need to remember that those who’ve made history aren’t those who’ve laid out small, safe, non- or low-risk plans, but those who’ve taken great God-risks in obeying his revealed will. No one ever shook up the world by leaving well enough alone.

I think so many of our strategies in reaching out and serving God in the world are actually insulting to him. When he’s promised us all the power we need in carrying out his will, why are we constantly acting as though everything depends upon our flimsy and paltry efforts to do things in our own strength? Isn’t it one of the Christian life’s first lessons that without the power of Jesus in our midst we can (and will) accomplish nothing (Jn. 15:5)?

So let’s not set out to prove this one more time, but take seriously the truth that’s on every page of the New Testament, that we can do all things through Christ that are in line with his will, and that with God absolutely nothing on this earth is impossible.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
-Ephesians 3:20-21

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**Photo by Tambako The Jaguar via Flickr