A L M A C I A S

THE EXCUSES PEOPLE GIVE

As we study the Bible, from the book of Genesis to the book of Revelation, we find how it is that so many will use excuses for not having done that which was right. Any time someone broke the commandments of God and were asked to give an account of themselves, they would always use one excuse or another to try to justify what they had done. What did Adam do when God asked him in the garden of Eden why he had disobeyed God? Adam failed to take responsibility and knew he had to throw the blame somewhere else, so he first blamed his wife; but he also blamed God for giving him his wife. Never did Adam blame himself, never did Adam take personal responsibility for having done that which was wrong. Eve, on the other hand, could not blame Adam and there was no one else to blame, so she blamed the serpent. Now in Eve's case, the serpent was partially to blame, but so was she.

As we continue through the Bible, we find other cases of people trying to excuse themselves for having disobeyed God. In the case of Aaron, he allowed the people to pressure him into making a golden calf to worship as their god, while his brother Moses was receiving the commandments from God. What did Aaron say when confronted by his brother in regard to this incident? He said that the people were set on doing mischief and that they brought all their gold and they cast it into the fire and there came out a calf. (Ex. 32:21-24) I wonder if we were to throw gold into the fire what we would get. These are just a few of the excuses that some used to try to justify their disobedience unto God. The main thing I can see in these excuses, as well as many others that we find throughout the Bible, is the idea of passing the blame somewhere else for what one has done.

And so today, how many are still trying to use excuses for not having done that which was right in the eyes of God. What about those people who seem to absent themselves from Bible classes and who only make it in time for the sermon, or those who only come on Sunday mornings but not on Sunday nights or on Wednesdays? Sometimes it may be the case that those who absent themselves from coming to services are older people who cannot see very well at night. It is dangerous for them to drive at night, or perhaps poor health makes it almost impossible to be present at all times the church meets. But what about those who are young, who are healthy and strong but they just do not have the time? God knows about all of our lives and therefore some will have no excuse to give on the day of the Lord.