[CAUTION: This will not be satisfying!]

Why is it that we tend to categorized commands that Jesus gave into two categories: possible and impossible?

Love your neighbor as yourself. Possible
Raise the dead. Impossible
Feed the hungry. Possible
Heal the blind. Impossible
Clothe the naked. Possible
Cast out demons. You’ve got to be kidding!

Momentarily ignoring the possible/impossible issue, all of these fall into the category of “works.” The “impossible” ones we readily admit that they are only doable IF there is divine power available; the reality is that the same is true of the “possible” ones. Everything Jesus commands us to do can only be carried out through his grace and and supernatural power.

On a supernatural scale, there is no difference between a possible and an impossible command.

But that seems to put us in a bit of a dilemma, doesn’t it?

John 1:12 — “to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.” We have a legal precedent here; IF we become believers, we are legally brought into God’s family as legitimate children, heirs with legal rights to everything in heaven. We have the right to become like our older brother, Jesus (Romans 8:29). His death guaranteed that.

We have an inheritance to spend. How many miracles will take place in heaven? How many sick will be healed in heaven? How many dead will be raised in heaven? If the answer is “none,” then where do we spend this inheritance? Our purpose on earth dictates that we need the heavenly resources to fulfill the commands, the works, we’ve been charged with carrying out. If we don’t spend our “inheritance” here, and it won’t exist there, how can we be obedient?

Coal dust… it tends to be rather messy. Maybe it’s time to come out of the coalmine.