excuses – La Vista Church of Christ

Busy Here and There

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sun, 04 Oct 2026 17:08:52 +0000

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Busy-Here-and-There.mp3

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton

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Text: I Kings 20:13-42

I. Ben-hadad, king of Aram, was determined to take Israel.

A. At first he tried to cripple Israel by demanding anything he wanted - I Kings 20:2-6

B. He threaten to grind the capital of Israel into dust, but he was rebuffed - I Kings 20:10-11

C. He tried to attack, but a counter-attack was launched while Ben-hadad and his kings were at a pre-war party. Ben-hadad was completely routed and barely escaped.

D. God warned Ahab that he would try again the next spring.

E. Meanwhile, Ben-hadad was convinced that he only lost because of the location of the battle, so he decided to attack next on a plain.

F. Ahab again is guided by God into a great victory. Ben-hadad decides that it would be best to plead for mercy. Ben-hadad offers terms of peace and Ahab lets Ben-hadad go - I Kings 20:23-34

G. God sends a prophet with an illustration

1. The man disguises himself as a wounded soldier - I Kings 20:37-38

2. He gives this story - I Kings 20:39-40

H. Ahab recognizes neglect in carrying out his duty. The excuse that he was busy here and there and neglected to watch was not sufficient.

I. The prophet charges Ahab with the crime - I Kings 20:41-42

J. What an excuse! I was too busy running a war to ask God what to do with the man God helped him capture.

II. Yet we offer the same excuse

A. “I was busy here and there, and you know, I just couldn’t seem to find the time to talk to my neighbor about Jesus.”

1. Do we appreciate the debt we owe the Lord for our salvation?

a. We were under the penalty of death - Romans 6:23

b. Yet Jesus died on our behalf - Romans 5:8

2. Paul understood - Romans 1:14-16

a. He owed others the gospel

b. Too often Christians act as if God owes them a reward

3. There are people who need to hear the gospel. Don’t squander the opportunities.

B. “I was busy here and there, and you know, I just couldn’t seem to find the time to raise my children.”

1. It is a parents responsibility - Ephesians 6:4

2. We get what we sow - Galatians 6:7-8

3. The children see that church is of secondary importance to you.

4. They get in a habit of negligent service - Proverbs 22:6 (It goes both ways)

5. We all see the decay of our society.

a. We know that it comes as a direct result of the social programs being implemented in our schools.

b. There is a lack of discipline and a lack of accountability

c. What else could you expect to come from this?

6. The only bulwark against this decay is the family. Yet, we get too busy and leave things to others to manage, and then we are surprised that while we busy here and there, we lost our children somewhere along the way.

C. “I was busy here and there, and you know, I just couldn’t seem to find the time to nourish my own soul.”

1. Even while the Lord was here, some were just too busy - Luke 9:59-62

2. Salvation can be lost from neglect - Hebrews 2:3

3. The Israelites lost theirs over time as sin creep into their lives - Hebrews 3:12-14

4. We get caught up in day to day matters and we forget that salvation requires diligent watching on our parts - Hebrews 4:1, 11

5. The problem is not with God, but with ourselves - Hebrews 6:9-12

6. We need endurance - Hebrews 10:35-39; 12:1-3

III. Busy here and there

A. And a neighbor is lost.

1. What can be offered in exchange?

2. II Corinthians 5:10-11

B. And a child is lost

1. It is one thing to lose a child because of sickness or an accident

2. But to lose a child from neglect?

C. And we are lost

1. What can a man give in exchange for his soul? - Matthew 16:24-26

Since no church is perfect, can we attend any church?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 02:02:14 +0000

Question:

Why do people have the “no church is perfect” mentality?

I had a conversation with my mother about a church she was trying to convince me to go to. It was a church I knew about, and I told her I didn’t want to go because the church she spoke of was part of a denomination. I also knew it would have unbiblical beliefs. She responded, saying that “no church is perfect.”

Should we as Christians believe no church is perfect? I believe this mentality can be used as an excuse to avoid addressing serious issues like false teaching.

Answer:

Local congregations are composed of imperfect people. Therefore, it would be expected that each congregation will have some imperfections. We see this in the descriptions of the churches mentioned in the New Testament. While some churches, such as Philadelphia, had no spiritual problems, they faced external problems (Revelation 3:7-13). However, Jesus never told churches to accept their imperfections. They were commanded to improve (Ephesians 4:11-16).

This is no different than discussing a marriage. No marriage is perfect, but this doesn't mean it doesn't matter who you marry or that you must accept abuse. However, despite flaws, two people who are committed to striving for a good marriage will work to improve it.

Some people leave congregations at the first sign of difficulty instead of working with brethren to strengthen the church. Others stay with churches that are not following the Bible and have no inclination to change. Both extremes are wrong. You find one that is fundamentally striving to follow the Lord and work with the group to improve.

I’m Only Human

Jeffrey Hamilton — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 20:05:29 +0000

by Ney Rieber
via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 21 No. 4, December 1995

When someone uses the phrase "I’m only human!" you can be pretty sure that they are getting ready to do something inhumane. What do we mean when we say "I am only human?"

Most often, "I’m only human!" is used to describe a person's baseness. It is used to indicate that one has reached the end of one's patience and is about to take some action that is not very nice.

How many times have you heard "I can only take so much; I’m only human," or perhaps "I can’t help it; I’m only human"? "I’m only human" indicates that some rash action is about to be taken? Perhaps you have heard, "My old human nature just reared up and I did it!" or "The animal in me..." or "My animal nature can only tolerate so much." "I’m only a man" - all phrases used to indicate that patience has been exhausted. "I’m only a man" is also an excuse. It means, "I can’t help myself because of what I am."

Being "human" is used as an excuse to do harm or as a means of justifying the evil one does. People have come to ascribe evil to human nature and hold a very low opinion of it. Is this a valid and scriptural perspective?

What does being "human" really mean? Webster defines human as "being or characteristic of man." This definition of what it means to be human does not indicate evil. Cognates of "human" indicate just the opposite. Humane means to be marked by compassion, sympathy, or consideration for others. A humanitarian is one who practices philanthropy (the love of mankind).

Webster indicates that being human is a good thing, not a bad thing. The Scriptures indicate something even greater. They tell us that being human is being in the image of God. The first man was created in the image of God. Genesis 1:26 reads, "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."

After the fall, after man became subject to sin, man is still in the image of God. In Genesis 9:6 we read, "Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man."

Jeremiah 1:4-5 tells us that the infant in the womb is still created by God when he writes, "Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou earnest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." Isaiah 44:24 conveys a similar idea when it says, "Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself." To say "I’m only human" is to say that I am the special creation of God.

To say, "I’m only human," is to say I am in the image of God! Being human is also being the object of God’s love. Romans 5:8 says, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Other passages, such as Ephesians 2:1-5 and Titus 3:3, say the same thing. God loves mankind. He loves mankind without qualification or reservation. He loves mankind enough to die for mankind. Being only human is to be blessed by the love of God.

Being human is having the ability to live righteously! Romans 2:14-15 says, "For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another." Even the Gentiles who were not the recipients of God’s revelation could and did choose to live righteously.

Being human is having the ability to choose good. Deuteronomy 30:19 tells us, "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live." Life with God is a choice only humans can make. "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" (Joshua 24:15). Joshua chose to serve God. He encouraged all Israel to do the same. Being human means that we have the ability and opportunity to choose to serve God!

Being human is having the ability to see beyond oneself. I John 3:16-18 reminds us that we are not in this life alone. There are others to help and be helped. It says, "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth." As humans, we have the ability to see beyond ourselves and care about others. We can show that concern in our treatment of others.

Being human is having the ability to be like Jesus. It is God’s desire that all mankind be like Jesus. We read in Romans 8:29, "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." To become like Jesus is to undergo a transformation of character. Paul writes in Romans 12:2 "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." What a glorious concept - that this one who is "only human" can be transformed into the image of Jesus.
Being human is having the power to become children of God. The Apostle John, in John 1:12, wrote, "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." God has given every human being that ever lived or will live the potential to become a child of His.

I’m only human. Only human? Being human, I am created in the image of God. Being human, I am the object of God’s love. Being human, I have the ability to live righteously. I have the ability to choose good. I have the ability to see beyond myself and have compassion for others. Being human, I have the ability to become like Jesus. I have the potential to become a Child of God!

Being only human - what a wonderful thing to be!

I Will Follow Thee

Jeffrey Hamilton — Mon, 04 May 2026 17:42:01 +0000

by Kenneth Frazier
via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 21 No. 1, March 1995

“And it came to pass, that as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest” (Luke 9:57).

This passage in Luke provides a helpful insight into human nature. Three persons are mentioned by Luke as having intentions of following the Lord. Matthew 8:19-22, a parallel passage, mentions only the first two.

Consider the first of the three. We do not know for certain what prompted his enthusiastic promise, whether the miracles which Jesus performed, or his wonderful message of forgiveness and salvation. This first man calls to mind the impulsiveness of Simon Peter, who said, ”I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death” (Luke 22:33). And again in John 13:37, “I will lay down my life for thy sake.” In reply to Peter’s impulsive vow of loyalty, Jesus predicted Peter’s denial “before the cock crow.”

This first man said, “I will follow thee.” Before we make such a vow of loyalty to the Lord, it would behoove us to exercise a little foresight and count the cost. Jesus replied, in effect, that “I have no home, no certain dwelling place, and if you follow me you will likewise be called upon to sacrifice all such material comforts.” The extent to which one is able to fulfill the promise to “follow whithersoever thou goest” will depend on how well one has prepared himself to put the Lord first.

The second person mentioned by Luke received an invitation from the Lord to “follow me.” As is true of many people, this man was not quite ready to accept the responsibility of discipleship. No doubt, he could appreciate the blessings that would flow from following Jesus and genuinely wanted to do so. But for whatever reason, he asked the Lord to wait. I have talked with many who have expressed faith and a desire to obey the gospel of Christ, but have asked the Lord to wait until they are ready. There seems to be the feeling in their heart that “Oh well, the Lord is always ready, and he will not mind a few days, months, or years.” Whether Christ minds or not is not the problem. The problem is in thinking that something else is more important than following when Christ says, “Come unto me.”

Family matters occupied this second man's attention. Before he could follow the Lord, he must take care of his duties at home. His father had to be buried. Some have professed to see in Jesus’ reply a lack of sympathy or feeling for the dead. It is not that, for he expressed compassion for such on other occasions. The great question is: “Is there anything that should take precedence over accepting the invitation of Christ to follow him?” If so, what is it? What is more important than obeying the gospel of Christ? This second man delayed or procrastinated in his service. Jesus said that the spiritually dead can bury the physically dead.

The third man mentioned by Luke also makes a promise to follow Jesus, “But ...” Can you imagine someone putting conditions in his vow of service? “If you will let me do this, Lord, I will follow you.” I wonder how many of us subconsciously do this without realizing it? Are you aware of the reasons or excuses you use for missing the assembly of the saints? Are you aware that when you rationalize and think, “Oh well, the Lord surely won’t mind if I stay home to cook my meal for company”

Restricted by Your Own Affections

Jeffrey Hamilton — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 21:48:49 +0000

by Terry Wane Benton

There were some at Corinth that did not like Paul for one excuse or another. Perhaps they did not like his appearance, his style of oratory, or skill in the same, but whatever was the excuse, they were not thinking correctly. There were carnal members who were not spiritually minded (I Corinthians 3:1f), and this was the problem. By cutting Paul from their friendship list or from their list of brothers they would include in their circle, they were "restricting" their own hearts from good things. Paul wrote the second letter to them and told them, "You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections" (II Corinthians 6:12). They were affectionate toward others, even toward false teachers, but made Paul an enemy for telling them the truth. Who knows how much richer they could have been inside had they not closed out Paul and others? They restricted themselves from a wonderful brother and friend who could have enriched them if they had only been more open.

Why do people form a circle that closes others out? What might we be missing if we opened our circles, opened our minds, opened our hearts, and gave a person a chance to share their faith, hope, and love with us? It is worth a lot of thought to consider whether we might be restricted from a special friendship because we have chosen to have affections for others based upon prejudice and unfair judgment that restricts us from some great spiritual opportunities with great spiritual people.

The Loser’s Limp

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 23:12:01 +0000

by Ron Adams
via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 19 No. 3, September 1993

I recall that several years ago, I heard a guest speaker refer to the ’loser’s limp.’ This phrase, he said, described the feigning of a handicap as the reason for not acting appropriately or not performing as required.

All of us know when we fail in our efforts. We know when we fail in job performance, family obligations, or our actions towards others. We feel the sting of our conscience pricking us. Feelings of guilt rush into our consciousness. Such feelings are troubling and must be dealt with.

If we are honest, we will admit to ourselves (and others) that we have fallen short, and with a change of heart, determine to correct the problem. If we seek to justify our failures, we develop the ’loser’s limp’—blaming some influence, force, or circumstance for our poor performance.

"I can’t because..." is offered as justification for inaction.
"He made me do it..." is submitted as the cause of irrational behavior.
"If it weren’t for..." is submitted as a defense for wrongdoing.

Like the runner who, after running a poor race and feeling bad about his performance, conveniently develops a limp just before crossing the finish line, he thereby attempts to convince the observers that "it’s not my fault, I’m not able. Don’t criticize me. See, I have a limp!"

Similarly, people develop the ’loser’s limp’ when attempting to defend their transgressions, their insensitivity to the needs of others, and their poor attitude toward assembling for worship. They deceive themselves, thinking they are excused or justified. Most of the time, such limping is convincing only to the one doing it. Whether others buy such excuses is really unimportant; what is important is that the Lord scoffs at such nonsense. "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith" (Galatians 6:7-10).

Next time we find ourselves falling short in our performance as a Christian, let’s not feign the loser’s limp, but stand upright and accept full responsibility for our actions. Then, and only then, we are in a position to make the needed changes, to receive forgiveness from the Lord, and to have the support and understanding of the brethren.

Why Become a Christian?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 01:41:00 +0000

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2004/11/Why-Become-a-Christian.mp3

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton

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Text: Revelation 3:14-22

I. Many here are Christians. You've been Christians for a number of years. Do you remember why you became a Christian?

A. Many people have never chosen Christ. There are some here who have yet to obey the Gospel's call.

B. Why do they hesitate? What is it that is holding them back?

II. What is a Christian?

A. There are numerous ideas about what constitutes a Christian. We need an exact definition

1. A Christian is not just someone who believes in God. - James 2:19

2. A Christian is not just someone who is not a Jew or a member of some eastern religion.

B. The word “Christian” means a "follower of Christ"

C. Let's see how the Bible describes a Christian

1. While discussing how servants ought to behave, Peter makes the following comment in I Peter 2:21 - Those called (or Christians) are to follow in Christ's footsteps.

2. Luke 14:25-33 - We must carefully consider the cost of following Christ. It doesn't come for free. We must give up all this world has to offer to follow Him.

3. John 8:31-32 - We must live in Christ's word.

a. II Timothy 2:15 - A worker who knows how to handle God's word.

4. John 15:8 - Christ's disciples are fruitful

a. We produce fruit by living God's word - Galatians 5:22-23

b. We produce fruit by spreading God's word - I Corinthians 3:5-9

5. John 14:15 - Christians obey Christ's commands

III. Excuses people give for not being a Christian

A. No Time

1. Too busy with life. Trying to get ahead. Trying to make enough to retire early. Or to afford the pleasurable extras.

2. Are these really important?

a. Matthew 6:25-34 - There is no need to worry or to try to get ahead. God will provide; if we we put him first.

b. I Timothy 6:6-10 - Christians are to be content. Riches just entrap people, bringing grief.

c. James 4:14 - Life is uncertain.

d. Proverbs 23:4-5 - Riches are temporary

e. Mark 8:36-37 - What good is wealth after we die?

f. Solomon found that the pleasures of this world were useless. Ecclesiastes 2:10-11. They don't profit a person; they don't improve their situation.

g. Need a retirement plan? The best and only one is a home in heaven

B. Christianity is not applicable to today's situations

1. Christ has not changed - Hebrews 13:8.

2. God does not change - Malachi 3:6

3. All good comes from God and that has not changed - James 1:16-18. This includes salvation.

4. Looking through the Scriptures, we find that the sins commit back then are still being committed today.

5. Therefore, the Bible is still as valuable today as it was when it was written. II Timothy 3:16-17

C. I'm a good person. God won't condemn me.

1. What is "good"?

a. Consider a respected man in his community. He was devout. Men described him as God fearing. He gave to the needy and prayed regularly.

(1) Would you consider him "good"? Was he saved?

(2) Yet, in Acts 10, Peter told Cornelius to become a Christian. After he obey, we are told that he was saved.

b. Paul told us that he lived his whole life with a good conscience - Acts 23:1

(1) Yet, he needed to be baptized to be saved - Acts 22:16

2. We need a standard to measure "goodness" by

a. Our conscience is not a good guide as we see from Paul's life.

(1) At one point, he persecuted the church

(2) Jeremiah 10:23 - Man cannot determine his own way

(3) The conscience is trainable; toward good or evil

b. Many ways seem right, but are not - Proverbs 14:12

c. The Bible is the right measuring stick - II Corinthians 10:12-18.

3. If you are claiming to be doing good and yet you have not obeyed the Gospel, the end is described in Matthew 7:21-23

D. I already have my religion

1. But do you have Christ's religion?

a. People who offer this excuse generally are not interested in finding out

b. They don't want the boat rocked

2. I John 4:1 - Don't believe everything that you hear. Prove that it is from God.

3. II Corinthians 13:5 - No only others, but also test yourself for the truth.

4. And what is our standard to measure against?

a. Since Christians are followers of Christ and his teachings, then the proof should come from Him.

b. II Timothy 3:16-17 - Profitable for reproof and correction.

E. I'm not good enough

1. In one sense, none of us are good enough. We have all sinned - Romans 3:23.

a. If we claim to be without fault, then we are deceiving ourselves - I John 1:8

2. Perhaps they believe they are unable to change or that they are unwilling to change.

3. We are able to overcome sin!

a. Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus has shown the way. He endured temptations, just like us, but He did not succumb to sin.

b. I Corinthians 10:13

(1) The sins you face have been faced by others before you

(2) No temptation we face is beyond our capability

(3) There is always a way out

F. It's too restrictive

1. Sin itself is restrictive

a. People don't realize it, being caught within it - Ephesians 4:22, II Timothy 3:13.

(1) Sin deceives the sinner.

b. A man, blind from birth, doesn't miss colors

c. We can be enslaved by passions and pleasures - Titus 3:3

2. We cannot serve two masters - Luke 16:13.

a. If God is not our master, then we must be enslaved to Satan.

b. Romans 6:16-23 - We are either slaves to sin or righteousness

c. Romans 6:23 - The benefit of service to God is life. Sin brings death.

IV. For those here who have yet to obey God, what excuse can you give? What more must it take for you to obey our Creator and become his willing follower?

What About Those ‘What About’ Questions?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sat, 28 Jun 2025 21:47:25 +0000

by Bob West

"What about those who have never heard the gospel? Are they saved?"
"What about the sincere believer who has never been baptized?"
"What about the sincere (insert any world religion)? Are they really going to be lost?"
"What about this situation?" "What about that situation?" "Is God really going to be so strict?"

These kinds of questions are well-known to those of us who have preached the gospel for any period of time. And, frankly, these are not easy ones to answer. Here are some thoughts for your consideration.

While it may be the case that some of the "What about/what if...." questioners are sincere, it has been my experience that many of them raise those questions to conclude: 'Therefore, it doesn't really matter what the Bible says about anything.' If, for example, it's a "faith only" advocate who is asking the question about the necessity of baptism, then I just turn the question back on them: "What about the sincere Jew, sincere Hindu, sincere idol worshipper, sincere atheist, etc. who has not yet believed in Jesus? Are we therefore to discount John 14:6?" The point is, if human reasoning is going to be our standard, where do we draw the line?

I may not always know how to respond to such questions effectively. But what I do know for sure is the ultimate source of those questions. The source is Satan! From the very beginning, Satan's task has been to raise questions that attack the reasonableness and credibility of God's commands. His first effort was in the Garden of Eden, to Eve: "Thou shalt not surely die..." In other words, 'Does it seem reasonable that a loving Creator would punish you just because you ate this particular fruit?' You can find numerous other examples of Satan's manipulations behind the scenes throughout the Bible. (Viz., Nadab and Abhiu in Leviticus 10; Saul in I Samuel 15, etc.)

Let's play a little "What If" game of our own here. What if it is the case that Christ, the Righteous Judge, should decide that this sincere _________, who was never baptized for the remission of sins, should be saved anyhow? Let me hasten to say that there's no way I can affirm that that would be the Judge's decision. But, (stay with me here) what if it were? Would that in any way diminish my responsibility to obey Acts 2:38 and to preach it to others? No way! What if God, in His infinite wisdom and mercy, should decide to save the pagan in the remote jungles, even though he had never heard of Jesus? Would that reduce my responsibility to hear, believe, obey, and take the gospel of Christ to that pagan? No way! What I'm trying to say, is that the source of the question is Satanic, in that the father of all lies, the Great Deceiver, is using those apparently sincere questioners to sow the devil's seed which produces the conclusion that we really don't need to pay attention to what God has said! I may not always know the best way to answer the question, but I recognize it immediately when it comes from where it does.

Let me refer you to a passage that has helped me somewhat in my struggles with this subject. It is Matthew 11:20-24. Read it carefully. Notice that God's omniscience is such that He can know, not only what man has done, but what he would have done under a different set of circumstances. Jesus said that Tyre and Sidon would have repented if they had seen the miracles done in Chorazin and Bethsaida, and that that was going to be factored into what was done with them on the day of judgement. Reread it and see if that's not what He's saying. Now, if that's the case, God can look at my life and not only see what I have actually done, but what I would have done under different circumstances. Is that a fair conclusion? For example, Polycarp, one of John's converts, willingly chose to be burned at the stake instead of renouncing Jesus. You and I will hopefully never face that situation. But what if we were? What would I do if I had to make Polycarp's choice? Well.... I like to think that I would have done the same thing as that ancient Christian. But God's wisdom is such that He knows absolutely what I would do, and that will be factored into the judgment.

Now, having established in our minds the awesome omniscience of our God and how He can use that in the Judgment, this furnishes me with a ground of confidence and comfort when such questions are put to me. My answer should therefore be, "I don't know what God will do. But I do know that that person will be in the hands of a just, merciful, and omniscient God who will always do the right thing, because He has perfect knowledge of all the hypothetical 'what ifs'. I'm willing to leave it in His capable hands. But in the meantime, my responsibility remains undiminished to find out from His word what He wants me to do, and then do it explicitly with all my heart."

When we let hypothetical questions weaken our respect for God's revelation and our resolve to do His will despite all else, then we have fallen prey to one of the Devil's most successful devices. May it never be!

Nothing to Do?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 20:23:26 +0000

by David Gibson

Two university students were talking. One lamented that there wasn’t anything to do in our small town. The other said he had once been a student in a large city where there was so much to do that his grades suffered as a result. He felt it was to his advantage to be in a community like ours, allowing him to concentrate on his studies. What one considered a liability, the other viewed as an asset. The student who realized he’d be tempted to waste his time had come to know himself and had grown wiser from experience. He now saw things from a different perspective.

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16).

There is no question that our days are evil. The question remains regarding how we walk and how we use our time.

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked ... but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:1-2).

What a difference a new perspective can make!

A Case of Rationalization

Jeffrey Hamilton — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 17:09:35 +0000

by Gary Smalley
via Biblical Insights, Vol. 15 No. 1, January 2015

The word “rationalize” is on my short list of words whose spelling and meaning don’t go together. Somehow, they just don’t fit. Maybe I confuse this word with acceptable “reasonableness.” Or it could be the experience of too many math classes (a rational number is an integer or the quotient of two integers). Maybe I’m overdue for mental exercises to help me understand “rationalize.”

One rationalizes by attributing his actions to rational and credible motives without analysis of true or unconscious motives (providing plausible but untrue reasons for conduct). Using reason is a good thing, unless you rely on reasoning as the basis for the establishment of moral and religious truth. That is what makes this word, which seems to be all about good things, actually be about something bad.

I read a newspaper article entitled, “Man Jailed For Stealing Paper From Box.” This man was given a seven-day jail sentence for stealing an extra newspaper from a news rack after refusing to pay the $125 fine for third-degree property theft. He said, “I can’t believe the law officers in this town can’t find anything better to do than watch a paper box.” [The “rationalizing” light should be blinking now.] He said it was “ridiculous,” and that the arrest “really ticked me off.”

Have you ever noticed how upset people become when their wrongs are exposed and they are caught sinning? Do you remember how John exposed Herod’s adultery and how Herod wanted to put him to death? He finally did (Matthew 14:1-12). Do you remember how Jesus exposed the sins of the religious leaders and how they sought to kill him? They finally did (Matthew 12:14; 21:45-46; 26:59; Mark 3:6; 11:15-18; 12:12; 14:1; Luke 19:47-48; 20:19; John 7:1; 8:59; 11:47-53). Don’t you suppose that Jesus really “ticked off” some people? Don’t you suppose that some thought that what Jesus said and did was “ridiculous?” And don’t you think some might have thought that He should “find something better to do?”

This rationalizing man “complained that other ‘paper thieves’ were ignored while he was arrested.” This man needs to know that all people’s deeds are known by the God of heaven (that includes all petty thieves), and that all will be called to give an account (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Acts 17:31; II Corinthians 5:10; Hebrews 4:13). If all paper thieves had been arrested, would this have justified this one man’s theft? Is this man released from accountability because other wrongdoers were not arrested? How quickly we point a finger at others who are guilty when our sins are exposed (this is no new practice; see Romans 2:1-6).

In some cases, the more a man talks, the better insight we have into his character: “I never really thought anything about taking that extra paper. I mean, it’s done all the time, right? I’m not saying it was right of me to do that, but they should have gotten the other guys too.”

The problem with many people today is that they never really think about sinning. Some people have repeatedly trampled their consciences and have repeatedly justified wrong actions to the extent that now the habit has formed, and sin is justified without the least consideration. And yet, the horribleness of sin required Jesus’ death on the cross. When a person reads the Bible, he can understand why every sin is to be forsaken, hated, and guarded against. When one learns and understands the scriptures, he will “think something about doing wrong” - even if everybody in the world does wrong, all the time! Should we be comfortable in not thinking anything about our unrighteous deeds merely because a great many others do them all the time? Maybe this was the same rationalization that God’s people used when they breached the covenant faith to worship and serve idols. Did they never really think much about it because it was done all the time? God thought quite a bit about it (Deuteronomy 13:6-11)!

Stealing is a sin (Romans 13:9; Ephesians 4:28), regardless of who does it, how many do it, or how often it is done. Thieves shall not inherit the kingdom of God (I Corinthians 6:10). Thieves need to repent (Acts 13:19; 17:30; II Peter 3:9), and obey Christ (Romans 2:6-11; II Thessalonians 1:8; Hebrews 5:9). Multitudes are guilty of all kinds of sins, and with each sin committed comes self-justification, excuses and rationalization to make one feel as if his sins are not all that bad. The Lord has provided the way to cover sins: through repenting, confessing, and forsaking them (I John 1:9; Acts 8:22). Rationalizing is not part of the gospel of Christ!