Excuses, Excuses!
Most of the time there is always a valid excuse of why you can’t or why you failed, and at times that excuse may even be sincere. Also, there are times when we can make what is perceived to be “valid excuses” for our sin. Here are two examples:
Saul replied, “when I saw that my men were scattering from me, and that you hadn’t arrived by the time you said you would, and that the Philistines were at Michmash, ready for battle, I said, ‘The Philistines are ready to march against us and I haven’t even asked for the Lord’s help!’ So, I reluctantly offered the burnt offering without waiting for you to arrive” – 1 Samuel 13:11-12 (TLB).
“The Ark was placed upon a new cart and taken from the hillside home of Abinadab. It was driven by Abinadab’s sons, Uzzah and Ahio. Ahio was walking in front and was followed by David and the other leaders of Israel, who were joyously waving branches of juniper trees and playing every sort of musical instrument before the Lord… But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled and Uzzah put out his hand to steady the Ark” – 2 Samuel 6:3-6 (TLB).
Both accounts describe what could be labeled as “legitimate reasons” to carry out the actions detailed, especially when you consider these deeds were real-time, amid the situation. Just like in our own lives, we’re in the middle of the storm, caught up in the net, in the whirlpool making decisions based on what we feel and think, and sometimes like Uzzah just reacting to the stimulus without any thought of consequences; just doing what we think is best.
However, God does not work like that. Scripture notes, “Then the anger of the Lord flared out against Uzzah and he [God] killed him for doing this, so he died there beside the Ark” – 2 Samuel 6:7 (TLB). In the account of Saul, “You fool!” Samuel exclaimed. “You have disobeyed the commandment of the Lord your God” – 1 Samuel 13:13 (TLB).
Although these incidents are described in the old testament, God still holds true to His Word and His standard. If we fail to do what God says, when He says, and the way He says, it is sin. “Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it” – James 4:17 (NLT). Thank God for Jesus Christ.
