Can God Really Do Everything?


One of my favorite preachers tells a story of a young, Christian college student sitting in a classroom with a very antagonistic professor. The professor, hoping to challenge the young student's faith, asks a question - "Can God do everything?" The young student, not realizing that the question was merely bait,  zealously replies, "Yes! He is all-powerful. He can do everything!" The professor, in response, asks the age-old philosophical question, "Can God make a rock that God cannot pick up?"

The preacher telling this story went on to teach that the correct answer to the professors question is, "No, God can't do everything." While many Christians may find themselves shocked at that statement, the truth is, God, though He is all-powerful, is limited by two things:

1. His Nature - He cannot be anything other than who He is.
2. His Word - He will not go against His own word.

If one takes a moment to really reflect on this, it is a powerful and life-changing truth. We serve a God who is not going to wake up tomorrow and be something other than what He is today. Why? Because he cannot be anything other than who He is. 

Because God limits Himself by His nature and His word, there are, at least two things, God cannot do:

1. He cannot stop loving you 

The scriptures tell us in 1 John that, "God IS love." Did you catch that? He IS love. Not God loves you, but God IS love. His very nature is love. If God cannot be anything other than what He is, it is impossible for Him to stop Loving you!

This is good news! God is not going to wake up tomorrow and choose to stop loving you.


2. He cannot sin 

It is impossible for God to sin. Why? Because God IS good. His nature is good and just and right, therefore, it is impossible for Him to sin.

Again, this is more good news! You don't have to worry about waking up tomorrow in a world where God suddenly decides that "good" is over-rated and He wants to play the cosmic "bad boy" for a while. God is good today, will be good tomorrow, and will continue to be good for all of eternity.

During this Easter season, as you reflect on God's great love for you, remember that we serve a God who's love and goodness never change. As believers we can stand confident, not just in what our God can do - But also in what He cannot do!

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