Excuses

I didn’t do it!

It’s not my fault!

He made me!

Excuses, excuses, excuses…ever heard any? Perhaps the harder question is–do we make excuses when something goes wrong? If we’re honest we probably do so all the time. Perhaps to others and even to ourselves.

“I missed the deadline because you didn’t give me enough time.”

“I’m late because my children dilly-dallied.”

“I didn’t clean the house because I didn’t make the mess!”

“Yes, I admit to being rude, but you started it!”

And it goes on and on.

What is one of the oldest excuses in our history?

During that day’s cool evening breeze, they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden; and the man and his wife hid themselves from the Lord God in the middle of the garden’s trees. The Lord God called to the man and said to them, “Where are you?” Genesis 3:8-9

The man replied, “I heard your sound in the garden; I was afraid because I was naked, and I hid myself.” The Lord God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman you gave me, she gave me some fruit from the tree and I ate.” Genesis 3:10-12

The Lord God said to the woman, “What have you done?!” And the woman said, “The snake tricked me, and I ate.” Genesis 3:13

 

The Bible tells us that sin entered the world at the Garden. How did this happen?

• Adam and Eve disobeyed God
• They committed an act that they knew was wrong 
• They blamed someone else for their actions

Have you been there? Haven’t we all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory? (Romans 3:23)

How did you feel when you recognized you had sinned? Sad, vulnerable, afraid?

Did you try to hide?

Perhaps one could argue that making excuses isn’t a sin. But…if our excuses are a lie to others or ourselves, aren’t we sinning? Blaming others for our own mistakes or weaknesses is not honoring God.

What did God do when Adam and Eve sinned?

There are, of course, consequences of sin. These results may not be immediate, but consequences will follow sin. Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden. From that point on, pain and hardship would be a daily part of their lives.

But, God did something else.

God loved the sinners. He had compassion for them. In His awesome majesty, He gifted Adam and Eve with grace. Life was no longer idyllic, but God was with them through the hard times.

God made Adam and Eve clothing. He sent them to a different land that allowed them to grow food.

“The Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to farm the fertile land from which he was taken.” Genesis 3:23

Do you recognize yourself in any of these situations? I confess that I do. Of course, like everyone, I have sinned and been blessed to receive God’s grace. But, I also realize that I’ve sometimes made excuses for my sins to try to justify them to myself or others.

Have you made excuses? Is it time to put those excuses aside, ask God’s forgiveness, and strive to be honest with God, yourself, and others?

 

At Christmas, we will soon celebrate the greatest gift of all time. Jesus…the baby that grew up to carry the entire load of our sins. Perhaps this joyous occasion is also a good time to give the gift of honesty to ourselves and others.

No more excuses!