Trying is not good enough

Too many think that repentance is just trying not to sin. It isn’t. God expects obedience, even unto death. He expects you to obey him at all inconvenience, pain, and suffering.

Many claim that perfect obedience is impossible. When we say something is impossible, we sometimes mean we aren’t sure if it is possible or not. If God has commanded it, it is possible. God does not command us to do things that aren’t within our capability.

A disciple of Christ can never use the excuse of “no one is perfect” to dismiss their willful choice to do less than their actual best. Sinlessness does not require you to do things that are beyond your capacity. It just means you don’t excuse yourself when you are capable of not sinning but choose to sin anyway.

When we say something is impossible, we sometimes mean it’s really difficult. If God has commanded it, it is worthwhile. God doesn’t ask us to do what is not in our best interest.

Most people are quick to make excuses for why their choices are less than their potential.

Capability can be a limiting factor when addressing physical actions: you have limited time, limited money, limited strength, and limited skill. However, when it comes to matters of character, if you can think it, you can do it.

Even with the existence of limits in capability, you must exercise extreme caution in excusing yourself from doing the good you can imagine. While the best you can imagine must certainly be constrained by limits of circumstance, it cannot excuse you from limits of choice. Everyone has to prioritize possibilities because no one has infinite time or resources.¹ When most people refer to “doing their best,” they are actually making excuses for what they know is not a limit of capability, but of comfort.

You will feel responsibility beyond the limits of what others can see and beyond where they would excuse you for doing less than you could. Your conscience won’t let you off as easily as others might. Your conscience will hold you accountable for what is possible, not what is easy or convenient. You will only be free of guilt when you truly do the best you can, subject only to your capability, not your comfort.

If you allow mere discomfort to dictate your obedience to God, how can you inherit the same glory as one who kept the commandments even though it cost his or her life?

The Lord did not mince words when he said:

34 ...Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. (Mark 8)

You cannot allow yourself to choose contrary to God’s will, even if it costs you your life.