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| | From:  SEB1625 (Original Message) | Sent: 8/26/2007 2:02 PM |
Excuses
Luke 14:16-24
Text 18
Over the years and from all denominations regardless of what race or creed there have always been reasons why folks may not wholly follow the LORD. Some reasons are completely legitimate while others are just plain flat out excuses. We may try to water down the word excuses and we try our best to justify our excuses but when it comes right down to it we in our own minds and hearts begin to think it's true. So pretty soon we've convienced ourselves that we're in the right and service and commitment to the LORD will just have to wait.
So let's look into the Word of God at some of the areas we find excuses not to follow or serve the LORD, reasons that if one is not careful they will miss the greatest suppertime of all, the one that we'll sit at one day with the Creator Himself and all the Redeemed.
Now in verse 18 one person had bought a piece of land. Who in their right mind would have bought a piece of land without first seeing it. Could have been swamp land or just plain old and arid or perhaps just plain useless. This is a picure that represents folks that are so caught up in possessions. Things such as land, properties, cars, boats, houses or other objects. All these things represent being too closely attached to wordly objects. So consumed by their glit and glamour that they don't see the need of a Savior, thus neglect the need of salvation.
Now in verse 19 we see a person bought five yoke of oxen. Now once again we have the impression that this one hadn't even seen them. For all he knew they coud have been old and broken down and all used up. This represents being all caught up in business. Things like being consumed by things such as money, bid deals, bank accounts, holdings, investments and stocks and the such. Business affairs will lead to sadness and loneliness. Business meetings and days and nights from home and family. Eventually, like the possessions will lead one to not see their need of a Savior thus neglect to see the need of salvation.
In verse 20 we see a man that has taken a wife. I wonder just how many men have let their wives keep them from serving the LORD. Are we so weak that we let our wives dictate to us what we can or cannot do for the LORD? Now we come to what I believe personally, the thing that will prevent folks from commiting to the LORD and that is family. Oh how we love our family. In most case there isn't much we wouldn't do for our loved ones. Sometimes our love is so midguided and we get so entangled that we neglect the things in life that are more important such as love for God and His will and not our own.
How many times have we turned away from serving the LORD because we let our family situations come first? We must careful and vigilant so that we won't find ourselves neglecting the things of God and service to Him.
Oh we like to stay home when our children are sick but does it take the whole family? Wives that aren't sold out to God will eventually have an effect on their husbands and also husbands that are not sold out to God will do the same to their wives and thaen they will have the same effect on their children. How many times if we look back over the years will one forsake God in order to please their spouses?
One reason may be that one will say my husband or my wife they'll go to church but not with that old fashion crazy crowd that likes to shout and run the aisles and stand up and testify. Then there's that crowd that like the fluff and rose juice squirtting. Oh the cares of family duties. Work, play, vacations, recitals, music practice, ball practice, church and so forth and so on. I wonder what will be the next excuse?
Now when we look in verses 26 & 27 we see the point of self denial. Do we really love the LORD or just go through the motions? This shouldn't be. Our love and dedication to the service of the LORD should be so great that our love for our family should seem as we hate them. No, we really do not hate them but it should seem that way.
So in closing, what excuse have we made and what future excuses will we make? One day we'll be out of excuses, are we willing to bear our cross and come after Him and be His disciples? One day we'll stand before God Himself and then what will we say. We're all invited but so many will turn down the invitation to eternal life.
I am looking forward to the day when I and all the saved by grace will sit down at the Mariage Supper with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Evangelist Stephen Blan |
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