29 May 2022
EXCUSES ARE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE. (Part 1)
‘Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ 19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ 20 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ 21 “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’” (Luke 14:16-21 NIV)
Kings hardly ever send out an invitation as broad as this. It is not only strange but a show of generosity that a king made so great a supper and still offered it without price. It is all the more surprising that all the invitees with one consent begin to make excuses? The call of the gospel comes to every man and woman within hearing of the ministers of God— none are excluded unless people decide to exclude themselves.
Excuses are curses, and when you have no excuses left, there will be blessings and hope for you. But while you make excuses, you have many things to lose. It is preferable that one speak outright and say what you mean! I would love that one would say, “I am an enemy of Christ; I do not believe His gospel; I will not serve Him!” This might sound very bad, but it would show, at least, that there is a level of sincerity in you, and we would hope that, before long, you might change your mind and position.
Satan is always ready to help men with excuses. This is an endless trade; after our first parents had sinned, they made aprons of fig leaves to hide their nakedness, a covering to excuse their sin. Read the Scriptures through, and you will find that excuse-making has been a habit in all ages and among all classes of people; and till the last sinner shall be saved by sovereign grace, I suppose men will still be setting up their vain excuses in the Temple of God. Satan will always supply you with ammunition if you are interested and willing to fire the gun of excuse. When Satan perceives that the truth of God is about to come home to you, if you cannot frame an excuse, he will do it for you; he will run between you and the gunshot of God’s Word to prevent you from being wounded by it. If the preacher’s sword should be too sharp for you and make your conscience bleed, the evil one has a satanic plaster with which he will soon bind up the wound.
Our great God, our Master, give us the boldness to own up to that weakness and tear away the excuses. In humility, let us stand before your bar, that we may cry, “God be merciful to us, sinners, help us to find pardon through the blood of Jesus Christ.” Help us to refrain from going on excusing, and excusing, and excusing until we excuse ourselves down to the pit of hell where we will never be able to excuse ourselves again. Amen.
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