“But Mom!” How many children have asked their mothers to reconsider the situation with those words? Mom certainly does not know all of the details. “But Mom!” If she knew the whole story her decision would be more benevolent. But Mom generally knew the whole story. “But Mom!” was just an introduction to a list of useless excuses.

How many “Buts…” do I give my God when I sin and roll out my litany of excuses. “But God, I do not have…” as if I had some right to sin because I lack a blessing. “But God, did you see what she did?” as I compare my sin to other’s. When I am really embarrassed, I ignore it altogether. “But God, I am pretty sure I didn’t even do that!” My solution to my sin is childlike excuses.

None of these gross excuses work. None of them balance the scale of God’s justice. Really, my excuses just add more weight to what I owe. I find myself sitting across from the almighty God with a fearfully unbalanced scale of debt, my sin, between the two of us. My elbows are on the table, my head in my hands. I cannot even look at him because I have no actual way to compensate for the imbalance. I cannot even leave the table. God and I are separated by this miserable uneven scale. It is ridiculous that I actually thought my excuses, my solution, would distract God and I could stroll right into heaven! How childish! I realize how terribly wrong I am and it will cost me. It will cost me an eternity!

But God has his own solution. His “But God” is the greatest relief of my life! Not only does he clear my debt and balance his own scale, he does it in such a beautiful way! “But God” loved me! His Son, my Redeemer, is on my side of the table! “But God” showed me rich mercy. His Son, my Redeemer, took my treachery into his own hands. “But God” covered me with his grace. His Son, my Redeemer, is my solution! That lousy scale is no longer between God and I. We are at peace! I am at peace! What an indescribable relief! Heaven is open for me!

So, here I am. Redeemed. Relieved. By the grace of God, I pray that I do not even try my excuses. I pray that I remember who is on my side of the table with my debt in his hands. His Son, my Redeemer!