EXCUSES

I’m not exactly sure what triggered the memory today… but as I was in the backyard with the dog earlier this morning, I suddenly began to picture the very first time we brought a youth group to what was then called Marriot’s Great America theme park, in Santa Clara California, in the mid-1970’s.  I remember that we arrived soon after they opened in the morning and left when the park closed that evening.  We had a great group of youth and some fun-loving sponsors.  Once at the park, we divided the kids and sponsors into groups, equipped the sponsors with walkie-talkies and planned to meet a couple of hours later for lunch.

A good friend of ours, who had been one of my groomsmen in our wedding, accompanied Piper and I and the group we led.  Well… as it turned out, John was a fun-loving, single guy who LOVED roller-coasters... much to Piper’s and my chagrin… as neither of us were thrilled with them.  But that didn’t deter John one bit and he made it his sole purpose that day to get us on a roller-coaster!

We did a pretty good job of coming up with all kinds of EXCUSES until the afternoon waned into early evening… and with great trepidation… I finally gave in… and had an ABSOLUTE blast!  Following that initial ride, I must have ridden the roller-coaster at least a half a dozen more times until they announced the closing of the park!  I even convinced Piper to take a couple of rides with me… which she also enjoyed tremendously!

The silly EXCUSES that Piper and I kept coming up with that day (based on our personal fear and doubts) reminded me of the flimsy EXCUSES that I observed different individuals give, over the years, when it came to the suggestion of standing in faith on the Word of God for an adverse situation that they were facing.

And likewise… it also reminded me of the times different folks would try their best to get Piper and I to accept and then insert their EXCUSES for NOT trusting God, into the stand of faith that we had embarked upon.

Jesus encouraged us in Matthew 6:34, in the Remedy translation to,

“Stop worrying about how the future will turn out, don’t weigh yourselves down with imaginary future problems that haven’t even happened yet, and trust God with your future.” 

It is pretty clear to me that the “imaginary future problems” that Jesus was talking about in this verse, are none other than the EXCUSES that we employ against using our faith, when it comes to the idea of trusting in God’s Word over and above the things that we think MIGHT HAPPEN… This type of response to the difficulties in life, tells me that people’s EXCUSES (including mine at times…) have taken precedence in their hearts and minds over their trust in the truth of God and His Word.

In speaking of individuals who had given up on their faith in the Word of God, the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 1:25 that,

“they traded the truth of God for a lie. They worshiped and served the things God made RATHER than the God who made all things…” (TPT) 

When I think back over the last eight years of Piper’s life, I feel very sorry for the people who kept making EXCUSES as to why they couldn’t come and visit her, or call her, or stand in vibrant faith with us for the myriad of miracles that we were believing for.  I am saddened because they missed the loving hand of God working in the twilight of her life.

They missed the joy of seeing all the answers to prayer that filled our days and they missed the continual glow of the Holy Spirit in her smile, in her voice and that sparkling gleam in her eyes during the times when she seemed to reach deep inside of herself and pull out the wonderful, joyful, sweet and loving Piper that we all knew and loved.  They missed the tangible anointing of God that was all over her.

In this regard, Jesus taught the multitudes one day saying:

“I say to you all, the one who receives an invitation to feast with Me and makes EXCUSES will never enjoy My banquet.” (Luke 14:24 – TPT)

The word “ENJOY” in this modern version is translated in the King James Bible as “TASTE,” which in the original Greek is defined as “to experience, to enjoy, to gain nourishment from” and “to perceive the flavor of.”

Have you ever made an EXCUSE and not gone to a social event… only to find out afterwards of the delicious meal that was served and of all the fun that everyone who attended had… and you missed out on?  Well… I’m sorry to admit that I have… on more than one occasion!

Missing those kinds of events and the banquet served is like the EXCUSES we make when it comes to walking in the truth and promises of God’s Word in our daily lives.  If we don’t step out of our comfort zones and continue to allow our fears and/or inhibitions to have a greater say-so in our lives than our faith in God… we’ll NEVER get to experience and thereby ENJOY the flavor, the nourishment and the good pleasure of the banquets that God, through the knowledge of His Word and our active participation in it, invites us to attend.

With the celebration of MEMORIAL DAY today, when we honor all of those who have given their lives in the service of our country, we can’t help but to want to salute our flag and remember the great liberties and benefits it represents.  We pray for the families who have loved ones who gave their lives so that those liberties will continue and we praise God for the freedoms we enjoy in the USA.

Many of us will also enjoy a banquet, a barbeque or another traditional beginning of summer meal amongst family and friends… and I am pretty sure that none of us will come up with an EXCUSE to miss the good time!  Likewise, I encourage all of us to NOT make EXCUSES when it comes to participating and enjoying the banquets of victory that God offers us through the exercise of His Word in our lives!

Have a blessed day, and as you do… Keep EXPECTING and ENJOYING the BEST of God in your adventures in life!