No More Cheap Excuses

Verse of the day: Exodus 32:21 And Moses said to Aaron, “What did this people do to you that you have brought so great a sin upon them?”

The longer I live, the more I see a sad trend growing in our society. Sadly, it is not only growing in the unsaved world, but amongst God’s people as well. It is not a new trend, but an age-old propensity that goes back to the days in the Garden. When God confronted Adam about his sin in the Garden, Adam blamed God for his stumbling by pointing the finger at the “woman You gave me” (Genesis 3:12). Moses was sent down to deal with the idolatrous celebration that was taking place in the camp, and the first person confronted is Aaron, the one who was responsible for leading, and accountable for, the sinful actions that were taking place. Although Moses is the one confronting Aaron, it was God holding Aaron accountable. Deuteronomy 9:20 tells us that the LORD was very angry, and about to destroy him, had not Moses prayed and interceded on his behalf. As God’s children, we should be thankful every day that we have One who intercedes on our behalf, and whose righteousness has been imputed on us (1 John 2:1; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Aaron’s failure was not just that he did not stop them from going down the path of idolatry, but that he also encouraged it by making the golden calf. Being in the position he was in, he could have withstood those that brought up the suggestion. As born again believers, every one of us is an influence on someone, whether it is our spouse, children, grandchildren, or other Christians. Our actions can either promote holiness or promote sinful behavior. Jesus said in Matthew 18:6, “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” The Apostle Paul warned us against causing a brother/sister to stumble by our actions in exercising our liberty in Christ, in Romans 14:13-23. In this case, Aaron blamed the people, and used their propensity to do evil as an excuse for his own actions, or lack thereof, in promoting or preventing this idolatry. The one thing we will find in life, and in our Christian walk, is that the fear of man will always be a snare (Proverbs 29:25). As God’s children our allegiance is, and always should be, to the LORD. Both Proverbs 29:25 and Hebrews 13:6 tells us that we are to trust in the Lord and not fear man if God is our Helper. The bottom line is that God will not excuse our sinfulness, regardless of whether or not we allowed our fear of man to influence our choices. In Acts 5 there was an attempt to intimidate the Apostles to not preach in the Name of Jesus. The Apostle Peter and the other apostles answered in Acts 5:29, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” Whether our sin is idolatry, or any other sin, or our failure to tell others about Jesus, as commanded in Scripture, we must take personal responsibility for our actions. God will hold us accountable for our own actions, and reward, or take away reward, based on what we choose, regardless of who influenced us, as God and His Word should always be our influence. Aaron had a personal responsibility to make the right choices and lead the people on the right path in Moses’ absence. He failed in his duty to do that and failed to admit his fault in helping to promote the Israelites’ sin against God. Let us be a people who is known to not shy away from taking responsibility for our own actions, and standing up for what is right, not before man, but before God. No more cheap excuses.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).