Taking God's Side.

     "As it is written in the law of Moses, all this calamity has come on us; yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our iniquity and giving attention to Your truth.
     "Therefore the Lord has kept the calamity in store and brought it on us; for the Lord our God is righteous with respect to all His deeds which He has done, but we have not obeyed His voice."
                                     Daniel 9:13-14 NASB

     People attempt to justify their sin by saying that it really was not that bad. They consider themselves to be basically good at heart. They have a hard time reconciling the fact that a loving God would send anyone to hell. Many think that it would be unfair of God to do such a thing. All of this is nothing more than a feeble attempt at self justification. We think that we can make excuses. Nobody seems willing to take the blame for their sin, and to justify God as being righteous in His judgment upon the sinner.
     Look at the thief on the cross however. As his companion railed abuse at Jesus, this man makes no excuses, even taking the blame for his actions, and admitting the justness of the penalty he was now suffering.

     But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed are suffering justly,  for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." And he was saying, "Jesus remember me when You come in Your kingdom."
                                    Luke 23:40-42 NASB

     This guilty thief was not making excuses. He took the responsibility for his guilt. Likewise, he did not complain about the execution of sentence upon him. He knew and admitted that he deserved the punishment he was receiving. When he asked Jesus to remember him, he was asking as a humbled, contrite sinner, seeking grace from the God he had offended.
     This is what God desires from us. A frank, humble confession of our sin. He desires us to agree with Him about ourselves. Our sin is vile, an abomination to God. We are to blame for it, no one else. God does not want our excuses and finger pointing. We also must agree with Him that He is just in His judgment. What does it sound like to God when we approach Him for mercy, but we feel as if He was unfair in His judgment against us for our sin? Remember, sin is our rebellion against God (Romans 8:7). This verse tells us that our choice to sin stems from hostility towards God. He has every right as God to punish such hostility, and who are we to think that it is somehow unfair, and undeserved?
     Someday we will stand before God, and every mouth will be stopped before Him. We will have no excuses on that day. It will all be over (Romans 3:19-20). Now is the time to humbly agree with God about ourselves, and to receive His mercy by grace, through Jesus Christ! No more excuses! No more self justification! Cast yourselves upon Christ for your souls salvation.