Excuses

False religions give men excuses to try to remain in charge of their own lives. They will even encourage men to believe that they can be in charge of their own lives and still get to heaven. The problem is that God does not take charge of an individual just when he gets to heaven. Heaven is a continuation of a reality that must begin in this earthly life. God in charge of a life here on earth simply transitions to God in charge of a life in heaven. If it does not begin here on earth it will never happen. Eternal life does not just begin in heaven. It exists already. It must come into a person while he is still living here on earth.

1 John 5:11-12: And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

Man-made religions will tell their followers if they simply do this, that and the other thing they will get to heaven. The problem is that they have faith in doing those things and they are committed to doing them instead of having faith in God and being committed to Him. They then believe that they can maintain control of everything in their lives outside of those things. They believe that as long as they have done those things they can go their merry way in their sin.

Proverbs 28:13: He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

False religions convince their followers that they don*t need God butting into their lives every moment of every day. As if God being in charge is a bad thing. God being in charge is THE necessary thing. Attempting to maintain control of one*s own life or any part of it is rebellion against God and it is sin.

People bounce from church to church for many wrong reasons. Some bounce around seeking a church where they can feel good about themselves. Some bounce from church to church to find what they believe will be the easiest way to heaven. Some seek a church that will teach them they get to heaven by controlling their own lives better. They avoid churches that would encourage them to ask God to take charge. Some bounce from church to church to avoid churches that teach that faith makes a commitment to God.

The story has it that someone caught W. C. Fields reading a Bible once. When queried about it he said in his humorous drawl: Juss lookin* for Loopholes. Some people bounce from church to church looking for the most plausible loophole. When people say they are seeking a church where they can be better fed, the truth is often that they are irresponsible and want to be spoon fed. Mature believers will learn to feed themselves in addition to banqueting upon the preaching and teaching of others. People should look for the church that will help them be the most committed to the Lord, a church where they can serve God. People often seek a church where the leader is charming and seems authoritative rather than respecting the authority of Biblical truth.

1 Peter 2:2: As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

In seeking churches men often depend upon their own understanding. They seek churches that satisfy themselves rather than God. Their own understanding becomes their idol.

Proverbs 3:5: Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Faith in God and commitment and obedience to Him are inseparable. Man-made religions provide excuses for men to be uncommitted to God and disobedient to Him. None of their excuses will hold water when they stand before God. There is no effectual substitute for faith in God. There is no effectual substitute for committing oneself to God. People or churches who believe that faith is only mental assent make a fatal mistake. The underside of saving faith is repentance. Faith without repentance is a temporary paper thin veneer. One has not turned to Christ and His righteousness unless he has turned away from something else.

Mark 1:15: And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Men naturally prefer to commit themselves to anything but God. They prefer to substitute anything for God. They prefer to go their own way.

Isaiah 53:6: All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Romans 3:10-12: As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

There will be no acceptable excuse for not trusting the Lord and committing oneself to Him. There should be no holding back from God. Surely you would not want God to take just a part of you to heaven. It is not wise to expect Him to steal some part of you that you have not given Him and take it to heaven.

Romans 1:20: For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

The Bible is hard on the excuse makers and those that make excuses for one another.

Luke 16:15: And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

2 Corinthians 10:12: For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

Here are some related Bible passages that are well worth heeding:

Mark 8:35: For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel*s, the same shall save it.

1 Peter 5:6: Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

1 Peter 4:19: Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Romans 12:1: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Proverbs 21:30: There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.

Luke 6:46: And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Care to discuss Excuses with Ron?

He'd also like to hear your prayer requests