Silly Excuses – by JT Parrish

johntparishSeveral years ago a woman in our church said the reason she did not quit smoking was I, her pastor, did not pray enough for her. When I thought I had heard it all, another person who weighed over 400 pounds said she could not lose weight unless her pastor agreed to fast and pray for her. I suggested to her that it might work better if she did the fasting herself.
When a person does not want to do something there will always be an excuse or someone else to blame. Policemen report they have heard all sorts of silly excuses given for erratic driving.
• A man was weaving from one side of the road to the other jostling gas in his tank to keep from running out.
• Another was speeding to get home before he ran out of gas.
• A lady explained her accident was caused by a tree that loomed up in front of her and hit her car.
Biblical
Excuses are found in the bible. In fact, excuses are as old as sin. Adam excused himself for his first disobedience to God by saying, “the woman you gave to me” was to be blamed. Eve said, “the serpent beguiled me” – which being interpreted is, “the devil made me do it.”
Aaron excused his participation in making the Golden Calf idol by telling how the people threw their gold into the mold and “out jumped the golden calf.” Moses excused himself by saying “I cannot speak well.” Jeremiah said, “I am too young.”
Jesus told a parable of a great man who made a supper and invited his guests. Some made excuses why they could not attend.
• One had bought five yoke of oxen and had to go try them.
• Another had purchased some land and had to go see it.
• A third had married a wife. (Poor fellow never considered it could have been his last chance for a decent meal – just a little humor on the side, I won’t take up an offering for it.)
The man told his servants to go out into the highways and hedges and compel people to come into his supper.
Those who make excuses only cut themselves out of the blessing. Now consider this: Heaven is going to be populated with a great multitude of the redeemed. Yet there will be other multitudes whose excuse making will be an eternal tragedy.
• I don’t feel like accepting Christ now.
• Some other time.
• There are hypocrites in the Church.
• My parents took me to Church when I was a child.
• I want to first sow my wild oats.
Excuses won’t be accepted on the Judgement Day! Most of them are silly, and they become fatal when they are excuses that prevent receiving and following Jesus.