Fabricating Excuses

It is fairly common that when someone doesn’t want to do something, they will invent excuses to not do it. People will even invent excuses to not believe something, reasons why they can’t or shouldn’t. Generally, the excuses don’t hold up under deep scrutiny, but that usually doesn’t change the person’s resolve to not do or believe whatever it is. This has happened with belief in God for millennia, but now more than ever, and the excuses are becoming more cunning.

Exodus 7:11 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and the sorcerers, and they also, the magicians of Egypt, did the same with their secret arts.

When Moses went to Pharaoh, asking him to let the Israelites go, he performed signs and miracles to prove the power of God. Yet Pharaoh would not believe because his magicians were able to duplicate the signs to some degree or come up with reasons to dismiss them. It is interesting to note that they were not able to replicate them to the degree of the original. In the case of the staffs turned to serpents, Moses’ devoured the others. In the case of the rest, they were only able to duplicate in part, or only a shadow if at all, but it was enough to convince those who already did not want to believe that it was unimportant. There was proof in all the signs, even with the magicians’ attempts, to see God’s power, but for the mind determined to disbelieve, it was not enough. 

Those intent on disbelieving need little, if any, reason to not believe, even if evidence of the truth is plain before them.

Romans 1:19-20 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

In all of creation, there is evidence of God’s existence. Any rational, logical view of the created world must lead to the knowledge of a higher being. Yet, so many disbelieve because they simply do not want to believe. The smallest pretense of evidence against the idea is all that is needed, even if it is logically preposterous. In the time of Moses, magic was used to dissuade people from seeing proof of God. Now science is the mode of choice, but anyone who looks at science with a view unbiased by evolution must see the evidence of a divine Creator. The probability of all this happening by random chance over millions of years is absurd, but many believe it because they do not want to believe the alternative. They do not see because they do not wish to see.

Romans 1:21-23 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

Deep down, everyone knows the truth, the difference is whether they are willing to accept and believe it or not. No one has an excuse to not believe, not one that will hold up in the court of God. The world, that which is opposed to God, is determined to not believe in Him, to deny His very existence. From the beginning of time, they have fabricated excuses to not believe.

2 Timothy 3:8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith.

There always have been and always will be those who oppose God and seek to persuade others to oppose Him too. Some oppose Him outright, as did the magicians in Egypt, with arguments against His existence. Others are more subtle, seeking to entrap believers, deceiving them to believe lies and turn away from the truth, as Paul referenced in this letter to Timothy.

We need to be prepared for opposition, expecting to be rejected, dismissed and even attacked by those who are not willing to believe. However, we must also be careful that we are not deceived ourselves and led astray. We need to examine everything we hear and read and compare it to the Bible, the source of truth, and if anyone claims that part of the Bible is not true for any reason, we should not listen to anything they say.

2 John 9-11 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.

Be ready. Prepare yourself for opposition. Don’t let it discourage you. Also be on guard against false teaching. Diligently spend time in the Word so that you are familiar with the truth. That way, when someone preaches a lie you will know it. Make sure that what you believe is in line with what the Bible teaches. Make sure that those teaching you are teaching the truth. Don’t be led astray. Don’t believe their excuses.