The Blame Game

What games are in your closet?  We have so many games that the boxes are compressing each other and leaning oh-so-precariously.  Some of them are our favorites that we play regularly and others we hardly touch.  Have you heard of the Blame Game?  Is that one in your closet anywhere?   This game has been around for centuries, upon centuries.  It might not be in your hallway closet but is it in your spiritual closet?

I decided to read the whole bible again start to finish.  I have done this a half a dozen times, in different versions, and in different formats.  I love my NKJV.  It is MY bible; wrinkled, written-in, highlighted, and worn.  Reading in Genesis, right out of the gate, the newlywed couple are in a compromising position of guilt and sin, so what do they do...they play hide and go seek.  You know that game.  Well, God happens to be really, really good at hide and go seek, he is sovereign after all.  But being the gentleman (crushed heart and all) he asks, "Where are you?"

Mind you, we are only in chapter 3 of all creation.  The little darlings are in deep.   So, what do they do?  They play the blame game.  God asks if they have eaten from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.  This is one of those yes or no answers.  They were not forthcoming with the truth.  Adam pointed his finger at Eve and said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate."
Quickly  the woman points her finger and says, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."

It is so easy to excuse our sins by blaming someone else or something else.  How about you, where is your finger pointing?  Perhaps it is at your spouse, your job, your overindulgent pantry, your overcommitted calendar, inclement weather, an unreconciled friendship, or your drained bank account.  Here is the rub girls; when we stand before the throne of Grace we stand alone.  We only have ourselves to account for.

Our days are numbered the bible reminds us.  What do you want to do with your days?  I want to live a life of truth and transparency.  I desire to stand before Christ as a beautiful bride.  Blaming others is weak.  Blaming others is base.  Blaming others is tainting.  Grant it, humbling ourselves is hard to do.  Admitting our failures is so embarrassing but at the very same moment freeing (John 8:32).  We are instantly empowered when we live in the truth. We grow in our spiritual walk when we come clean and reconcile ourselves with the Cross.

Let's replace the Blame Game with the game Memory.  A verse from Deuteronomy 4:9 exhorts us to:

"...be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live."

Remember the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking to devour the truth.  Things get all twisted.  Instead of trying to make ourselves 'look good' because we want to wear a certain image or just be right; think about your freedom in Christ and our calling to live holy as He is holy.  No one wins in the Blame Game, there just ends up being more junk to clean up after the chaos settles.  Pray and ask God to show you areas in your life where you are not taking the responsibility for your choices or actions.  He is faithful and quick to forgive.  He equips us when we are open to the truth.  Be quick to admit your wrong attitudes and actions and apologize to God and perhaps someone else.  And remember you are not alone in your struggles, its been going on since the beginning of time!

Coram Deo,
E.W.