Bullets for the Battle

Neither Dancing nor Weeping, Part 2

They treat God the same way. People say they want Him but find excuses to ignore Him. According to Jesus, the greatest of all the prophets was John the Baptist. He was an ascetic. He wore only a camel’s hair coat. He ate locusts and wild honey. He showed radical commitment to God. He preached the Kingdom. No one could accuse him of hypocrisy, but the people rejected him. Why? Too fanatical!

Jesus came with the exact opposite life style. He was well dressed, enjoyed life, attended their feasts, mixed with sinners. He was God’s Son, perfect. He was the greatest example ever of man in fullness. He came “living it up.” But the people rejected Him. Why? He was a hypocrite – not fanatical enough! He loved sinners and spent time with them.

So there you have it! The greatest of the prophets rejected! The excuse? Too fanatical! The greatest “man” ever to be viewed on earth, Jesus, rejected! The excuse? Too hypocritical! Let’s face it – for those who don’t want to face God’s truth about themselves, “any old excuse will do.”

Jesus ended His comments by saying, “Wisdom is always proven by those who listen to Him and obey His teaching.” Those who excuse themselves from obeying God always end up with “the short stick of life.”

It is obvious to me that the church can’t ever satisfy those who are excuse oriented. If the church asks for money for the poor or for missions, “All we want is money!” If Christians sell all we have and don’t “get ahead” in life, we’re called “impractical!”

Harry Emerson Fosdick once said that “A man may wait to make up his mind, but he can’t wait to make up his life!” You are deciding today, right now, what you are living for. If you are not living under the authority of God today, you are rejecting Him!

Jesus said, “I am the way … without Me you can do nothing.” Will you follow Him? There are only two kinds of people on earth: those who want to do something and find a way and those who always find an excuse.