Excuses
Luke 9:57-62; 14:16-24

Man-made excuses are used by the devil to lull people to sleep. You can be sure he is going to use every excuse under the sun to keep men from receiving Christ. The greatest weapons against excuses are the Word of God and a deep dependence on the Holy Spirit.

A common excuse is, "I'm not ready, I want to think about it awhile." The obvious answer to this is II Corinthians 6:2 where God says, "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." Point out that if there is the least tug at the heart, it means God is working and willing to save them right then; and they should not tell God to wait but respond. "Boast not thyself of tomorrow," says God (Prov. 27: 1). So often, just as with Felix, who said he would hear Paul at a more convenient time (Acts 24:25), the convenient time never comes. Logic says, why put off the most wonderful thing in the world? One would not put off getting cured from some dreadful disease, especially when the cure is so simple.

Some fear they could not live the Christian life. Of course, no one can live a new life until he receives one. These need to know that "if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (II Cot. 5:17). They become alive by being "born again" (John 3:3). Becoming "partakers of the divine nature" (II Pet. 1:4), they carl live as God intends they should.

One of the most common excuses is that the sinner does not "fee!" as if he is ready. Many think they will have some particular feeling that lets them know this is it. No one can know what it feels like to be married until he is married, and so with salvation. He needs to take Christ by faith and not feeling.

Other excuses, such as hypocrites in the church, etc., are simply camouflages. Notice Christ's attitude toward excuses in Luke 9:57-62. Those making the excuses have not really understood the issues or are not sufficiently under conviction. Don't press too hard lest you force them into a false profession. Leave the door open to come back later after you have prayed for the Holy Spirit to convict until they are prepared to do business with God.