THERE IS REALLY NO EXCUSE

One of my favorite jokes is: "Why did the chicken cross the road?"  Wait for it; wait for it.  "To prove to opossums it could be done!"  That joke makes me think about the difference between opossums, and those who are Christians in name only.  Opossums, although very much alive, "play dead" in stressful situations; nominal "Christians," on the other hand, make believe they are alive, but in reality, they are as lifeless as a rock!

There are only two possible ways for a person to be alive spiritually.  That's right, I said two ways.

The first way is for a person to live his entire life without sin, that is, for him to live 100% of his life according to the standards of God.  It is possible!  Jesus did it, and in so doing, proved to sinners that it could be done (2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 2:22; Heb. 4:15; 7:26; 1 Jn. 3:5; etc.).   In addition to Jesus, there are the exceptions of human beings living within the wombs of their mothers, newborn babies, and those having a mental defect which prevents them from knowing right from wrong.  However, if you are reading this, I doubt very seriously you have met any of these qualifications.

To those who would challenge me on the basis that the Scriptures say "all have sinned" (Eccl. 1:20; Rom. 3:23; 5:12; 11:32; Gal. 3:22; etc.), I would suggest that, with the exception of Jesus, none of those mentioned above are capable of sin.  The two biblical definitions of sin are:  1) not doing what you know you should do (Jam. 4:17); and 2) doing something you know you should not do (1 Jn. 3:4).  The key is in the "knowing."

The second way is for a person to be alive spiritually, is for him to be spiritually born again (Jn. 3:3-8).  When the Holy Spirit moves upon a lost person, He reveals to him that he is a sinner, and that Jesus died for his sins (Jn. 16:9; 1 Cor. 15:3-4).   Believing the Gospel, and trusting in Christ, he is made alive spiritually (Rom. 6:4; 1 Cor. 15:22; Eph. 2:1, 5; etc.).  In other words, he must be convicted concerning his condition (Jn. 16:7-11), he must be convinced that the Gospel is true (1 Cor. 15:3-4), and if he is truly born again, he will be grateful enough to Jesus that he will allow Him to be the Lord of his life (Rom. 10:9-10).

Is Jesus the Lord of your life?  

If not, why not?