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)