[291 words]
Excuses that won’t work at the Judgment:
Lord, I didn’t know enough. “Thy word is a…light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).
Lord, I didn’t know which church to join. “And I say…I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). “Search, and look” (John 7:52).
Lord, I didn’t believe I could hold out. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).
Lord, I thought sincerity was all I needed. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter . . . but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).
Lord, I thought my preacher was right. “They received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11).
Lord, I didn’t think I was good enough. “Such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified” (1 Corinthians 6:11).
Lord, I was afraid to offend my family. “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:37).
Lord, the church was not popular. “God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth…but Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (Genesis 6:5–8).
Lord, there were too many hypocrites in the church. “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10).
Lord, I thought there was plenty of time. “But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee…” (Luke12:20).