WARNING TO EXCUSE MAKERS (Luke 14:16-24) In avoidance of doubts and ambiguity, let’s begin by considering what the word EXCUSE implies. We shall both look at it from two angles; the dictionary meaning and etymological connotation. According to the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, the word EXCUSE means a reason, either true or invented, that you give to explain or defend your behaviour. Etymologically, the word EXCUSE in Greek is PARAITEOMAI, which means to beg off, entreat, decline, refuse or reject. Having seen and understood the term excuse, let’s proceed to see why it is an issue of relevance in our discussion. We shall begin by reading carefully the text given above, Luke 14:16-24. “But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many; and at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘come; for all is now ready’. But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it; I pray you, have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them; I pray you, have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ So the servant came and reported this to his master. Then the householder in anger said to his servant, ‘go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame. And the servant said, sir what you commanded has been done, and still there is room. And the master said to the servant, ‘go out to the high ways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.” (Revised Standard Version). Our endless reasons for refusing the demands of the Lord in our lives may seem so cogent in our own sight. Notwithstanding, the Lord will not continue to allow His Spirit to strive with man forever. Generations have come and gone and the present one will not be an exemption. Though it tarries, but it patiently awaits its appointed day of absolute obliteration. From time immemorial, the devil, who is the prince of the power of the air had always presented the vanity of life in a sugar-coated poison to the descendants of Adam taking advantage of their depravity. A greater percentage has fallen and will yet fall prey and become captives of the mighty in the cruel hands of Lucifer. Many excellent destinies and bright futures have been battered for the filthy lucre and lustre of satanic deceit. Yet, man seems insensitive despite the catalogue of information (the gospel) around him. He has chosen to believe the lie of the devil rather than the truth of life and that to the detriment and irreversible destruction of his soul eternally in hell which was originally appointed for rebellious and fallen angels (Lucifer and his accomplices). My beloved, a stitch in time they said saves nine. Jesus Christ who described himself as the life, truth and the way to God and His eternal life came from heaven. He was there from the beginning of creation, he understands better where the world both began and how, where and when it will end. With this comprehensive knowledge, He asks you and I a question, ‘what shall it profit a man to gain the whole world but loose his precious soul to Satan in hell. I am sure you may have read or overheard this passage of the bible. Perhaps you simply winked at it and shrugged your shoulders over it and allowed it to swallow in the ocean of “it doesn’t matter.” Well, I think you’youve got to analyze that question again. Jesus left it unanswered perhaps someone may. The bible admonishes us not to be deceived for ‘God is not mocked.’ This implies that God cannot be outsmarted or overrun by human tricks. All our secrets are well known to him than we can ever imagine. We are fortunate enough to have the bible which gives a detailed account of previous generations, their respective attitudes towards God and how they ended. Jesus Christ, without mincing words, told us that this generation shall be likened to two popular generations in the past. They include the generation of Noah which never believed until Noah and family entered the Ark, and the next is the generation of Lot (Sodom and Gomorrah) who thought that Lot was jesting (kidding) not until the whole cities were engulfed in unquenchable flames. In a nutshell, it is time that he who calls the name of the Lord should depart from iniquity and cleave to the Lord Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith. Remember, no one knows when He shall come to take His people back home. It could be now, next 1, 2, 3, 4 hours, perhaps tonight or tomorrow morning. Can you confidently say right now, COME LORD JESUS, IM SURE THAT IM READY NOW. JESUS LOVES YOU!!!
Posted on: Sun, 24 Nov 2013 18:58:16 +0000
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