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Mustard Seed September/October 2002
Plant a Garden Reap a Spiritual Harvest
Biblical or Scriptural Vertigo
No Excuse -- Sir
Mustard Seed - September/October 2002
"No Excuse, Sir", When I was a preteen growing up in Arkansas, that statement was heard weekly on a television series entitled West Point. When a cadet was asked why a violation had occurred, the cadet would reply, "no excuse, sir." When I heard that statement, I would wonder, why doesn't the cadet explain why the violation had happened? The understanding of this type of training is clear in my mind now. These cadets were being taught not to "justify," but to "rectify."
WHO JUSTIFIES WHOM?
When we are faced with a fault, mistake, or anything that goes against us, we quickly want to justify ourselves. From the very beginning, mankind has justified himself. Adam was the first man and Eve, the first woman to justify themselves. As we know, Adam pointed the finger at God (his creator) and Eve pointed the finger at the serpent. They did not ask or seek a way to rectify the situation.
Israel's first king, Saul, justified himself; please stop and read I Samuel 15:13-22. How did Saul justify himself? Whom did he blame? We know of cases where people have justified stealing because they are supposedly underpaid, or practicing immorality because "everybody else is doing it." The auto mechanic, the politician, the accountants, in their self justification will say, "If I don't, someone else will". So they take advantage of people. Our Savior faced the same problem in his day. Stop and read Luke 10:25-37 especially verse 29. This man knew the commandments, but wanted to apply them to certain people and exclude others, (mainly Gentiles).
GOD'S CADETS
King David said, "Against you only have I sinned and done this evil in your sight," Psalm 51 can be called a "No Excuse, Sir" admission of cadet King David. Two parables points out we are to be cadets of God. Read about the Publican and Pharisee in Luke 18:9-14, and the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32, especially verse 21. Words of God can change you from a self-justifier, to a "No Excuse, Sir" cadet of God.
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