About 3 years ago I was having an ongoing conversation with the Lord about holiness. What his thoughts on it were and my feelings on the subject as I wanted to truly understand what the Lord requires of me.

As a new convert, I had an issue with the lifestyle of some of my brethren professing holiness and I really was having a hard time accepting some of the things the Lord was saying to me. I kept coming up with excuses based on the behavior of other persons, even identifying individuals and saying "but Lord this person looks a particular way but isn’t behaving the way one would expect based on the outward appearance."

Upon leaving the office one day the voice came to me strongly, saying, “No excuse will stand! I was so shocked by the forceful nature of the statement that I was left meditating on the words for weeks.

No excuse for our actions or inactions, our attitudes, our subpar service to the Lord...the list is endless.

The Lord has varied expectations of us all. As a father knoweth his children, the Lord knows just what tasks to give each of us and what measure to expect of us.

The parable in Matthew 25:14-30 speaks of a slothful servant who thought to hide the talent that his master had given to him instead of putting it to work. Upon his master's return the servant presented the same token to his Lord and went on to list varied reasons why his talent had not gained another. The Lord was not well pleased and told the servant to get out of his sight for ever.

As children of God, do we truly believe in the White Throne Judgement? (Revelation 20:11-15) Do we believe that at the end of our days we will stand before our maker being judged on the life we chose to live?

We won’t even think to argue a case before the Lord. There will be nothing that we could say to the Lord to make an appeal. Everything is naked and open before him (Hebrews 4:13). There is no need for a lawyer, no need for a jury, no need for witnesses. It is as the Lord says it is.

If no excuse will stand this then means that we are solely held accountable for our actions and reactions.

Ecclesiastes 11:9 notes that we are free to live life as we wish. However, note that everything that is done in our bodies will be judged by the Lord.

Why is this important to note? Oftentimes we like to "present our case" so to speak, as humans we like to validate our actions... (whether good or bad) we seek justification.

In front of an all seeing and all-knowing Judge nothing that we present holds any substance or weight in the courtroom.

God knows the root causes of our actions. He knows the very intent of our hearts so it is unreasonable to seek to place blame at someone else's feet.

Therefore, the reason for us leaving church then cannot be the fault of what was said, or not said by brethren. Why did *I* leave...What caused *MY* departure? Why do I find it hard to give of my best to the Lord?

As simple as it may seem, this is not to be taken lightly. On that day excuses will be useless and a pardon in short supply as we are given time on earth to live unto God. Our lack of service due to dissatisfaction with external factors will not come to our defense in the end. No excuse means that we have to evaluate our selves and ensure that at the end of the evaluation we take full responsibility.

Let us seek to know what the Lord expects of us, by seeking to know the Lord Himself and trust that He wants only the very best for us. Instead of excuses, let us carry our issues, weaknesses and tendencies to the Lord so they have no power over us and we are able to do the will of our Master.

 Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,

When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?

When the strong tides lift and the cables strain,

Will your anchor drift, or firm remain?

 Refrain:

We have an anchor that keeps the soul

Steadfast and sure while the billows roll,

Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,

Grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love.

 It is safely moored, ’twill the storm withstand,

For ’tis well secured by the Savior’s hand;

And the cables, passed from His heart to mine,

Can defy that blast, through strength divine.

 It will surely hold in the straits of fear,

When the breakers have told that the reef is near;

Though the tempest rave and the wild winds blow,

Not an angry wave shall our bark o’erflow.

 It will firmly hold in the floods of death,

When the waters cold chill our latest breath;

On the rising tide it can never fail,

While our hopes abide within the Veil.

 When our eyes behold through the gath’ring night

The city of gold, our harbor bright,

We shall anchor fast by the heav’nly shore,

With the storms all past forevermore.

Sources:

The Bible. Authorized King James Version, Oxford UP, 1998.

Hymnary.org (https:/hymnary.org/text/will_your_anchor_hold_in_the_storms_of_l)

Back in my college days there was a movie that was released under the title, “Drag Me To Hell”. It was a horror movie which I didn’t watch but the title is relevant.

Drag in this case refers to pulling someone in a direction against their will. These days there is no real need to drag anyone to hell as some persons are actually actively seeking the directions to it!

At what point did this happen where persons are now flirting and consorting with darkness? Jesus said (John 3:19-20) that persons hate the light because their deeds are evil and the light will show up their dark deeds.

The devil is making the world seem so enticing to young people with partying, money, fame, vain appearance, sex. These are all idols that are used to lure suspecting and unsuspecting young people deeper and deeper into the world of sin. But to what end? None of these things can truly satisfy and all can vanish away in an instant.

2 Corinthians 4:1-6 notes that if this gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost, whom the gods of this world hath blinded their eyes. So without the light many persons have no clue just how far down the road of sin they have gone and many see themselves beyond redemption.

I remember a conversation I had with a taxi driver in which we discussed God, church and salvation. I encouraged him to visit church one Sunday, he laughed at the invite. He mentioned that he was too bad for church and we would be scared of him. I told him such were some of us and that he would be surprised at the lives we once lived. Further into the conversation he told me that he didn’t see himself in heaven. He had done too many wrongs and it just wasn’t for him. He made it sound so hopeless. My heart broke. I told him that once he has life he has hope and that he can be saved. Whenever he comes to mind I pray for him.

The Lord came so that man would have a choice and a chance at eternal life in his presence (John 3:16). Essentially redeeming man from the clutches of sin. Revelation describes heaven in majestic splendor, bright and beautiful. While Jesus described the conditions of hell using the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. (Luke 16:19-31)

Think about this, so many persons use the term sleep/rest in peace. But why? How do we expect eternal rest when we have done very little on this side of life towards that rest? Many persons are just living for the NOW. YOLO! (You only live once) Where did this lie originate? I think it is time for many of us to take responsibility for our own lives and not entrust our future to pop culture or agendas.

Let us not escape hell because of its misery but because we want to spend eternity with Christ. Free from stress, free from sin, death, pain and grief.

If we could instead ask “How do I get to Jesus?” “Where can I find him?” “In which direction do I go?” If we could instead give this Jesus a try, if we could just seek to experience the love that Jesus gives.

Let us try one moment on our knees in prayer to the Lord and see what directions he gives.

My encouragement to us is that we endure hardship on this side of life to escape a fate that lies beyond the light.

There is a name I love to hear

I love to sing its worth

It sounds like music in my ear

The sweetest name on earth

Because He first loved me

It tells me of a Savior's love

Who died and set me free

It tells me of His precious blood

The sinner's perfect plea

Because He first loved me

It tells of One whose loving heart

Can feel my deepest woe

Who in each sorrow bears a part

That none can bear below

Oh, how I love Jesus

Oh, how I love Jesus

Oh, how I love Jesus

Because He first loved me

Sources:

The Bible. Authorized King James Version, Oxford UP, 1998.

O How I Love Jesus Lyrics. (n.d.). Lyrics.com. Retrieved May 8, 2021, from https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/29143300/Alan+Jackson.