Some years ago, a TV series entitled,"Mission Impossible," featured a team of skillful adventurers called the IM team. Each episode of the series involved the solution of a seemingly impossible problem that had proved too difficult or too dangerous for others to solve. As a last resort, the IM team was called in to secretly solve the problem. In fact, it was so secret that they were initially contacted by a mysterious tape recording in which an anonymous voice requested their help and outlined the problem. If the plan failed, the mysterious voice would not be held responsible, and the recording subsequently did a self-destruct. Of course the team always succeeded by brilliant planning, sophisticated gadgetry, and close-timing.
We all encounter seemingly impossible problems. We have limitations in knowledge, education and skills, and we are forced to call on experts for help Fixing a mechanical problem in a car engine used to be fairly simple and required a pair of pliers and a screwdriver. Nowadays, however, engines are so complicated with every function being under computer control and every repair requiring special tools, that only an expert mechanic can do the job. Most of the electrical and electronic appliances in our homes are beyond the understanding of most of us. Such gadgets as TV's, VCR's, microwaves, computers, even washers and dryers are beyond the capabilities of most users, and their repair is pretty much a mission impossible. Last night I was confronted with such a situation; while working on the computer there was a brief power failure followed by a malfunction of the phones, which produced a no-dial-tone problem. After checking all of the phones with no success, I finally called the phone company repair service. I faced a mission impossible situation that required an IM team.
When man sinned against God, he caused a problem that he could not solve on his own. He was condemned to death and there was nothing he could do to prevent it from happening. So God and His divine IM team put together a plan for a mission impossible from a human viewpoint, the salvation of the human race. This IM team, composed of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit decided that they would infiltrate Satan's territory and conquer him on his own ground. The Son, later known as Jesus Christ, was to be born of a woman, and, disguised as a man, would sacrifice Himself in man's behalf. It was carefully planned and brilliantly executed, and closely timed, and as a result of this mission impossible, mankind has been saved from eternal destruction. The plan of salvation is still in effect and is available to all those who will accept it, but it is soon to be finished, and God will soon close the book and destroy the tape on the great cosmic "mission impossible."
