Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Understanding important truths from the Bible….

Luke 14:18 NKJV

But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’

Romans 1:20

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

The statement in Luke is in the context of a parable, but the parable is an illustration of the passage beginning with 14:10-14. This demand for humility and charity is met with excuses by one and all. As we look at these who will not assume their responsibilities but confront them with excuses they draw our disgust and rightly so.

In Romans 1:20 Paul uses the universal clarity and perception of God Himself in creation to hold all humankind inexcusable. Again this is basic to the faith of believers. We believe that all men are condemned for their sin and God is just in His judgment. All humankind is without excuse.

Knowing this, why do we so often try to excuse ourselves and others at the expense of God’s honesty and justice? The use of excuses is a part of our life. Schools require excuses for absences. We excuse ourselves to ourselves and to each other for tardiness and failures. We excuse those about us for their willful imperfections. It is easy to see how far we go in our excuses.

But we are without excuse who have the law and the gospel constantly before us. Our responsibility to see ourselves in the light of God’s word and make a right judgment of what we see there is absolute. When we do not do that we are without excuse.

We are told in I John 1:8 we are liars if we say we have no sin. Most believers will never say they have no sins. But when sin is rationalized, ignored, and continued it is excused and though not verbally it is practically said not to be sin.

The believer in order to experience spiritual growth must be as honest in self judgment as he or she is in judging others. This is the intent of Romans 2:1-4. Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? James tells us the Law is a mirror not a telescope. In it we see ourselves for the purpose of self judgment.

This judgment will always bring the Christian to I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This is an ancient Biblical principle that is found in Proverbs 28:13 He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.

God is longsuffering. He is forgiving. He is loving. He pardons the believing, repentant sinner, but He never excuses him. Our excuses are but confessions of our failure to act honestly toward ourselves and toward God.

Let me conclude with the words of the writer of Hebrews. Hebrews 6:9 But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner