The God of the Impossible

Have you ever gotten dressed in the morning only to discover your sock has a hole? I’ve been there. (Show the sock). Today, I thought we could mend this sock together. I brought these to help me. (Show the needle and yarn.) 

First, I’ll thread the needle. That means you hold the needle like this and push the thread through this little hole called the "eye." (Show the eye.) This could be difficult. Do you think I can do it? (Attempt to thread the yarn, and make a show of it. Ask for help, and let a couple children try.) 

You know, this problem of threading the needle reminds me of something that happened with Jesus. One day, a rich young man came to Jesus and asked what he needed to do in order to go to heaven. Jesus answered him, "You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not lie, do not cheat, honor your father and mother.' "

Well, the young man said he’d followed all the commandments since he was young. How many of us have never, ever, ever broken a commandment, even a little bit? (Pause for responses.) 

Then Jesus told him there was one more thing he needed to do: “Sell all you have and give the money to the poor," Jesus said.

The young man was very disappointed. He turned and walked away because he was very wealthy, and he wasn’t willing to give up his wealth and belongings -- not even to go to heaven.

Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said, "It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven."

Now, putting thread through the eye of the needle can be pretty difficult. How would you like to try to put a camel through the eye of a needle? (Pause and hold up the needle again.) That seems impossible, doesn’t it?

Does that mean Jesus was saying it is impossible for a rich man to enter into heaven? I don't think so, because next, Jesus said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God. With God, all things are possible." That is the God we serve. The God of the impossible!

Heavenly Father, we are thankful that You are the God of the impossible. Without You, it would be impossible for any of us to get to heaven. In Jesus' name, amen.