All Things Possible With God by T. E. BOWEN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 16, 1915

All Things Possible With God

By T. E. BOWEN

T. E. BOWEN

Down at the end of Jesus’ life, when from a human viewpoint his work on earth had almost proved a failure, as he prayed in the garden, he said: “My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death.” “Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.” Mark 14: 34-36.

God’s Infinite Power Our Basis for Faith

“All things are possible unto thee.” Here is the very foundation stone of faith. That which to us, from our human standpoint, appears an impossibility, is quite possible with God. That which to us may seem as loss and failure, may be the very means by which God is working out his great design. Christ’s work was wholly successful, yet it did not have that appearance, as the Jewish nation rejected him, his closest disciples forsook him, and even his own mother counted it that his mission as Messiah had failed, as she sorrowfully followed her son to Calvary. Yet these disappointing experiences were the very means by which Christ’s mission gloriously triumphed.

The Apparent Failure of Noah’s Work

No doubt as Noah neared the end of his work in warning his generation of the approaching flood, it was quite a query in his mind as to whether his work had proved a success. Possibly, as he viewed it, there were yet many whose attention had not been called to the deluge that was coming. No doubt in his earnest desire that others should be saved his heart yearned to rescue these. A generation or two had arisen since he began his work. Many who first believed had either died, or given up their faith in a coming flood, so that it must have seemed to this aged servant of God, who had put his life and his all into the ark, that his efforts had about the same as come to naught. He certainly could see but little effect upon the people. A scoffing world was arrayed against him. And the very fact that the people scoffed, showed that they had had ample warning. At last the hour came when God sent his messenger to Noah with this word: “Come thou and all thy house into the ark.”

Israel Facing a Sea

To Israel, as they came to the Red Sea, it appeared from their viewpoint an utter impossibility for them to go up into the goodly Promised Land. But the sea opened, and that which to them was impossible, became quite possible to God.

The Great Work Confronting the Apostles

A band of followers faced a world with the unpopular doctrine that Jesus of Nazareth, who had taught throughout Galilee and Judea, healing the sick, forgiving sin, and uttering words of hope and cheer to sin-sick souls, who had been rejected, condemned by the chief priests and Pharisees as a blasphemer and disturber of the people, and crucified, had been brought back to life again on the third day, and that it was through faith in that name that they must be saved. “Neither is there salvation in any other,” Peter exhorted, “for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

It seemed an impossibility to impress a world with such a message as this. They were despised, talked about, talked against, driven through persecution from one city to another, everywhere the sect being spoken against. But they preached on, loved on, believed on. They had faith in their message, and taught it publicly and privately from house to house until they not only filled Jerusalem with “their doctrine”—God’s message for that hour—but the sound in a few brief years went out into “all the world” for a witness to that generation.

Again it comes to pass that that which to human understanding appeared an impossibility, verily becomes true. God was with them, working for them, and manifesting his power through them.

Another Impossibility Confronting the Last Generation

Down near the end another seemingly impossible task is undertaken by God. A world is to hear about the near advent of Jesus. Coupled with that, the law of God, so long trampled underfoot, is to be restored to its proper place. The Sabbath, rejected and downtrodden by men, is to be preached as still binding upon believers—apparently a hopeless undertaking. But the message is of God. He is in it. He begins it. A few believers espouse the heaven-sent message; only a few at first, and they poor, without worldly honor or distinction. But they begin preaching the unpopular truth, by voice and by pen. Believers multiply. The tidings at last break the bounds of native shores, and lights are kindled in another land. Soon other shores are reached, and the message speeds on. After four or five decades go by, the message, which was at first small and apparently obscure, becomes a world-wide one, gathering greater momentum in its onward progress.

Shall It Be Fulfilled in This Generation?

This is indeed a vital question. From our human viewpoint it seems to be an utter impossibility. But shall we leave God out of our reckoning? Shall we forget that that which is wholly impossible with men, is quite possible with the Infinite? Is it an opportune time to yield our faith in the ultimate triumph of this message when almost every mail is burdened with tidings of its progress in nearly every land upon the globe, and that, too, at a time when world conditions are unfavorable for its advancement? War cannot stop it. Hard times do not stop it. Opposition retards not its progress. Although everywhere spoken against and unpopular, a disturber of the peace, generally unwelcome as requiring people to give up too much, since it is founded upon the Word of God, it reaches hearts seeking for the light, everywhere, in every nation, bringing peace and joy and comfort and soul rest to those who receive it.