Mission Impossible

May 5, 2017

Mission Impossible

2 Corinthians 3:18 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

¹⁸ But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

When I was growing up one of my favorite TV shows happened to be “Mission Impossible” with the late great Peter Graves. With each episode Jim would be greeted by someone with a riddle then go into a room somewhere to get a briefing of his mission on a recorded portable dvd player. At the end of the briefing the voice on the recording would say:

“Your mission, should you choose to accept it Jim…this message will self destruct in 5 seconds.”

As I was thinking about this devotional and how it relates to the journeys we have in life, I thought about just how much life can be so much like entertainment and the things we watch. We come to a crossroad, like Jim did in ‘Mission Impossible,’ where God shows us that we have a mission and it certainly will be very challenging. Now we can be like the action hero and team like in “Mission Impossible” or we could be like Steve Martin in “Planes, Trains & Automobiles” where everything goes wrong and we cannot get a break and we feel the guy we are teamed up with is the devil as everything goes disarray.

As I have been reflecting on my mission and the road I have found myself on I can honestly say that there have been times that I have been Peter Graves and looking for the adventure knowing the road is hard but the promise is great and rewarding. There have also been times where I have found myself like Steve Martin and asking what else could go wrong or saying ‘it can’t get any worse’ only to realize that it certainly can.

In bible study the other day, one of the ladies who was leading, gave a great illustration of just how life is and what God does as a result. She gave us each a rubber band of which we talked about its characteristics of. You see, a rubber band was made for a purpose and in its purpose if was made to be stretched. Often times though we think that if God stretches us any more than we already are we will break. But what happens to a rubber band that has been left in a drawer for an extended period of time and never stretched or has been stretched and left there yet never is given the opportunity to recoil? It finds itself not being able to be useful and eventually break due to its continued state of being when stretched.

So often, I am sure you can relate, I find myself wanting to be used by God but not wanting stretched. I know when I am stretched there is much pain, pressure and tension, but there is also something else: PURPOSE. It is when we are stretched and sign up for that mission that seems impossible we can look back and see where God brought us, how we have effected others along the way and how much deeper into relationship with God we can go.

2 Corinthians 3:18 talks about the journey and mentions that the journey is to be in relationship with God and trust Him through the process. It continues to talk about the journey making us transformed into His image as He takes us from glory to glory, but I feel that may be misunderstood. Some may think that from ‘glory to glory’ means that everything is good, but what if it had a slightly different meaning to it? Imagine if it actually said something like this:

“God is transforming us into His image in His glory from trial to trial.”

Not always is the journey on the surface glorious, rather it is in those stretching times in the journey that God carries us from glory to glory so we are encouraged and do not lose hope in His transforming work.

As I was wrapping my mind around this concept I came across a remake of a song last night called “Nothing is Impossible.” What I didn’t hear before in this song was an additional verse that says:

“Speak to every limitation

Victory is my Declaration

Same Power that Raised You From the Grave

Is in me so I will give You Praise”

So what sets you apart on your mission that seems impossible and allows you to go from glory to glory? It is realizing the power God has given you, the promises He set before you and that passion to endure. Jim knew the power and promise ahead because he was focused on the destination unlike Steve Martin’s character who was also thinking about his destination but allowed himself to be overwhelmed by the adversity rather than the journey.

What does your journey look like? Are you focused on the promise or the problems? Do you remember where God brought you from or do you allow the fear of the task ahead to consume you to where you would want to return to Egypt?

God is burned a purpose in you and as a result is transforming you through His glory. Take a few minutes to look where God has brought you if you think the mountain is far too big to get beyond. Remember after night comes morning and after pain comes promise.

KEEP MOVING FORWARD!

CAL