Cloaks for Sin: or Excuses Removed
W. F. Crafts. John 15:22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.… No excuse for sin? That is a strange statement. Excuses have been one of the specialties of each sinner's stock-in-trade from Eden. These "cloaks for sin" are "always on hand." And yet Christ declares of those who wickedly and presumptuously reject the offered pardon and guidance, that they have no good excuse, "no cloak for their sin." But you say, I "I have a valid excuse for not being a Christian — I. THE HYPOCRISIES AND WRONG-DOINGS OF CHURCH MEMBERS." 1. I admit that some rogues are hiding their wolfish hearts under the deceptive wool of churchly professions. As Jacob, by putting hair upon himself and thus professing to be Esau, secured a blessing from blind Isaac, so some bad men have secured credit and confidence by stealing the livery of heaven to serve the devil in. One Sunday morning a dressmaker told her little niece to put on her things and take a bundle of dress goods under her shawl to the house of one of her patrons, remarking, "Nobody will see it." The child replied, "But, Aunty, is it not Sunday under my shawl?" There are some professors to whom church membership is only a shawl to cover up sin. Such an empty profession affords "no cloak for sin." 2. You say then, "I believe in a man living up to what he professes!" I answer, "I believe in a man's daring to profess what he believes." The outward and inward life should fit both ways. Do not think your strange eagerness to point out stains on Christian garments arises from pure love of truth and righteousness. Look down into your heart and ask, "Why do I so readily hear and so quickly believe and so promptly circulate, without investigation, reports against professing Christians" (Acts 8:58)? Besides, Christians never profess perfection in conduct, but only in love, with sincere though imperfect efforts toward goodness. II. But another says, "I have a real excuse — A GOOD MORAL LIFE IS A CHRISTIAN LIFE. I gave my old overcoat the other day to a poor man, and I give away to the poor more than anybody knows." Let it be remembered that Dorcas was saved because she was "a disciple." She did not hold up the garments she had made for the poor to cover up the sin of disobeying and rejecting Christ — indeed, she did not exhibit her charity at all; but those to whom she gave them praised her and not her own lips. This effort to cloak our sins is only a repetition of Naaman's effort to hide and heal his leprosy by giving away changes of raiment instead of obeying God in His command. III. Some of you are wrapping yourself in another cloak, which you think is fireproof asbestos — "GOD IS TOO MERCIFUL TO PUNISH ME. I don't believe as you do about future punishment." But the laws of the world assert that there must be punishment or atonement for sin, as well as the Old and New Testaments. But questions about endless punishment cannot fairly be made excuses for anyone refusing to accept personal salvation, as the only condition of conversion in the matter of belief is, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." "I don't believe" is no cloak for sin when God challenges you to test religion. "Come and see." IV. Another wrap is, "I AM TRYING TO BE A CHRISTIAN IN A QUIET WAY. I don't believe in talking about it." As well might our soldiers have said in the late war, "We are trying to be loyal, but we don't think that the order to wear blue uniforms and carry the stars and stripes and organize into regiments is essential." V. Another wraps a cloak of mingled humility and pride over his sin as he says, "I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO BE A CHRISTIAN. I'm very conscientious and I couldn't be a Christian without being a perfect one." Hear that sick man saying, "I'm not well enough yet to send for the Great Physician." VI. Or do you say, "I TRIED THIS THING ONCE AND FAILED?" As well say, "I tried to wear an overcoat but I didn't have it made carefully and it came to pieces in a little while, and so I'll never try to wear another, however cold the winds may blow." Throw away that shivering cloak of past failures as an excuse for sin and have another robe made more thoroughly than your first — the robe of Christ's righteousness. VII. Another cloak is, "I FEAR I SHOULD FAIL AND NOT LIVE UP TO MY PROFESSION. I have very unfavourable surroundings and a peculiar temperament." Exchange that miserable cloak for the sword of Divine help and defence and "the whole armour of God" (Ephesians 6:11). As to unfavourable surroundings, there were" saints in Caesar's household," and also in the households of Ahab, Pharaoh, and other famous foes of God. Abraham reared his altar in the very midst of idolaters. VIII. Or do you frankly say, "I COULDN'T BE A CHRISTIAN AND CONTINUE IN MY BUSINESS, and I can't give that up, for a man must live?" Mark you, when every man gives an account of himself to God, church records will never appear in evidence. What is wrong is wrong, whether a man's name is on the church book or not, and it is simply ridiculous to suppose you have a cloak for sin that will wash, because you can say, "My name is not on the church book" (James 5:2). IX. Or do you wave that "cloak for sin" aloft? — "I WANT TO HAVE FUN AND FREEDOM A LITTLE LONGER." "Only use not liberty as a cloak of maliciousness" (1 Peter 2:16). Joseph, when tempted by the wife of Potiphar, left the outer robs she had seized upon in her hand and fled, saying, "How can! do this great wickedness and sin against God?" X. Or do you offer the excuse, "CAN'T AFFORD TO BE A CHRISTIAN?" The church of Elijah and John the Baptist, with their rough camel's hair coats, and of the widow who gave the two mites, is surely a place for the poorest. Think less of pews and pennies and appearance and more of the penitence and the inward adorning of the hearts. XI. Or do you say by way of excuse, "I'M TOO BUSY TO THINK OF RELIGIOUS MATTERS? The care of the body is about all I can attend to just now." That was Dives' mistake. He was so busy in robing himself and family in purple and fine linen that he left his soul in rags and at last brought himself to hell's robe of fire. XII. OTHER EXCUSES — 1. "Too old." "He is able to save unto the uttermost." 2. Too young? As Samuel wore the ephod of a priest at three years of age, so in early life any child may wear the robe of righteousness. 3. Don't feel enough? When you have feeling the tempter will suggest the opposite excuse, "You feel too much excitement." Between these two halves of his shears he is striving to cut in twain your offered robe of righteousness.Conclusion: 1. What comedies are these excuses! To be frank and honest, most are mere quibbling, dilatory motions, talking against time. Such shallow excuses for absence from a business engagement would not be accepted — not even offered, and instead of providing a cloak for our sin, weave another scarlet robe of mockery for the Crucified (Matthew 27:28). When Joseph was called before Pharaoh, he "changed his raiment" (Genesis 41:14). We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. Are you willing to appear there with no change of raiment, wrapped in these ragged excuses? Thank God that a change of raiment, a wedding garment is provided — a real cloak for sin (Isaiah 61:10). With this robe of Christ's righteousness offered to us a real cloak to cover sin, shall we not, like the returning prodigal, throw away our ragged excuses and accede to that plan of God's infinite love, "bring forth the best robe and put it on him." As Peter threw off his outer robe when he plunged into the sea, that he might the quicker swim to Christ who stood upon the shore; as Lazarus was loosed from the grave clothes, so let us, lay aside every weight and the cloaks of excuse for sin that keep us back from God and Heaven, and let us first hasten to Christ, and run with patience the race that is set before us. As Lord Raleigh gallantly threw his beautiful robe upon the muddy ground for Queen Elizabeth to walk upon, so let us throw all our excusing cloaks of at the feet of Jesus and take instead Christ's cloaks of zeal (Isaiah 59:17). (W. F. Crafts.) Parallel Verses KJV: If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. WEB: If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have had sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.