The word excuse is defined as an attempt to lessen the blame attaching to (a fault or offense); It means to seek to defend or justify. When I was a child I heard that an excuse was a dressed-up lie. We know that a lie is something that is told to deceive. And although every excuse is not necessarily told to deceive, we know that often that is the case. What you need to understand is that there will be no excuse good enough to get an unsaved individual into Heaven. We can’t “fool” God or lie our way in. The Bible lets us know that each and every one of us is going to have to give an account of every idle word that has come out of our mouths during our lifetime.
Matthew 12:36 King (KJV)
36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
The other thing that needs to be understood is that based on Ps. 107:7, if you try to lie to God, he will not even allow you to tarry in His sight.
7He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.
So, you see, you cannot run a game on God. He already knows you are lying, so drop the act.
I want to talk to you for a few minutes about some of the excuses people offer when a Saint of God attempts to talk to them about being saved. I polled some of my saved friends on Facebook concerning excuses they have heard and the following are a few of their answers: “I have time”; “Once saved, always saved”; “I’m not ready”; “God is working on me”; “God knows my heart”; “I’m already saved”; “I don’t want to play with God”; “I don’t understand what the preacher is saying”; “I don’t have transportation to go to church”; “God is not real”. One saint gave this hilarious but sad report: One lady told her that she was going to church with her on Sunday, but that was the beginning of “eternal voicemail”. Another brother was told by a man who was over 60 years of age, “I’m not ready”. The final response to my mini-poll was: ”I’ve seen too much from so-called saved people; is this life real?”
Many of the responses had to do with not being ready or waiting for a specific time. Do they not realize that none of us knows when our “time” is up? Besides, did they ever think about the fact that when they decide that the time is right it might be too late for them? That’s a very risky stance to take. Actually, it’s a gamble and who is unwise enough to take that kind of a risk? To all of those who say, “I’m not ready” or “I’ll do it later” or “I want to get my running out so I can really live for God” please remember that the life that you have is a gift from God.
If your goal is to be saved after age 40 yrs., what happens if you die at 39yrs? It’s the devil’s foolishness to tell you that you have time. Don’t believe the lie. Think! The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 12:1 (KJV)
12 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
Heb. 3:15 While it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts…
To those who say “I’m already saved” when they are not, that’s a lie and all liars will have their part in the Lake.
Revelation 21:8 (KJV)
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Some might even be bold enough to make this declaration with a “40” in one hand and a lit cigarette in the other. They just cussed their friend out and yet they say that they are saved. You know that they’re lying and they know that you know that they are lying. They’re telling that lie to get you off their back. But what they don’t seem to realize is that the Saints don’t have a Hell to put them in or the ability to excuse them because of their confession. You’re simply offering them the way out of going to Hell: Jesus Christ. One of the unsaved person ’s torments in Hell may just be the fact that they were offered a chance to be saved, but refused it with a dressed-up lie like, “I’m already saved”.
Another dressed up a lie that is close to the “I’m already saved” lie is the “Once saved, always saved” lie. Another term for this excuse is “Eternal security”. I want to present a scenario to you. Tell me if you still believe that the Eternal Security excuse holds water:
Johnboy Jones went to the altar at age 8 years of age. He felt the convicting power of God at that early age and really wanted God in his life at that time. He shook the preacher’s hand, went down in water and received a typed certificate certifying him to be saved.
At age 12 years of age, however, everything changed. Johnboy joined a gang called the Crux and quickly rose to become the leader of the gang. He was involved in gang violence such as carjacking and theft. He “jumped” individuals into the gang, sold drugs and taught High School kids to shoot up. His gang got into a fight or “rumble” with a rival gang and two members of the Devil Deeds Gang were murdered. As the Head of the Crux Gang, Johnboy went to prison for 50 years when he was only twenty-five years old. While in prison it was known that he was involved in every crime committed at his prison. He never repented, he never asked Jesus into his life again and he died at age 75 years of old age, cussing, kicking and fighting with his last breath.
Now, you tell me, when Johnboy opened his eyes, did he find himself in Heaven or in Hell? Was he gloriously taken by the angels into the beauty of Heaven or was he dragged into Hell by demons? If you are honest about this case you know he did not go to Heaven. But, if Eternal Security was or is real, then he should have gone to Heaven, right? You already know better. And if it didn’t work for Johnboy who went to the front of the church at age 8 yrs. but lived his entire life in sin, it won’t work for you either if you don’t continue in Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:17 King James Version (KJV)says
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
You need to search the Scriptures for yourself to assure that you are saved. John 5: 39 says
39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
Some of you are relying upon something that you heard someone else say and you’ve accepted it as truth. But if the Bible doesn’t support what you are hanging onto, then you need to make sure that you are standing on the Truth. Too much rests upon whether or not you are right for you to be guessing about where you are going after death. Your eternal security is getting right with God and staying right with God. Ezekiel 18: 30 has an important message for everyone:
Ezekiel 18:30 (KJV) 30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
Where you spend eternity rests upon the Truth of the Word of God. Jesus is coming soon and He will be coming for a church that is spotless and without wrinkles.
Ephesians 5:27 (KJV)
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
If you are not saved when you die you are going to be without an excuse. And if you are relying upon a baseless excuse, it will not stand up as you face a just God in Judgment. Please get saved. We love you.
Excuses, Excuses, Excuses