Man Up
Man up is an expression that we’ve used for the past 25 years at my house. It isn’t meant to be sexist and obviously we’ve used this saying way before this time of political correctness and cancel culture in America. So tonight, I want to talk to you about manning up. Again, it isn’t meant to be sexist or anything like that. What does the phrase “man up” mean? Well, I’m glad you asked. Man up, means own up. When you’ve done something wrong, do you man up? In other words, own up to it or do you make excuses?
I’ll give you some examples. Let’s say one of my kids broke a vase when they were younger. When confronted with the broken vase, did they own up to what they did or did they blame someone else or make excuses for themselves? Manning up is calling a spade a spade. To man up is to admit when you’ve done something wrong. Another example is if I lie to my wife. When confronted by her about it, do I man up or do lie to cover up the lie? Do I make excuses, blame someone else or do I take responsibility?
People Don’t Man Up
That’s a major problem today, many people don’t “man up.” They won’t take ownership of their faults or failures. Instead, they use weak excuses such as “we’re all human”, “we all make mistakes” or “lying never killed anyone” (which isn’t true). Society in general doesn’t make people own up to it when they’ve done something wrong. In fact in New York City right now, they let people out of jail with no bond. Hardened criminals get arrested many times over and over and they have no fear because they know they are going to get released with no bail. No consequences, no fear and no manning up.
The first murder in the history of mankind was committed by Cain and guess what? He didn’t man up. No, he didn’t admit his crime. Please listen to Genesis 4:1-10: And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord. And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
Cain Slew Able
And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.
Cain Wouldn’t Man Up
God is all-knowing, all-powerful and ever-present and He knew Cain killed his brother Abel. But God wanted Cain to confess his crime. But did he? No, he didn’t. Cain responded with “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Cain did not man up. First off, he was jealous of his brother because God accepted Abel’s sacrifice but not Cain’s. So instead of offering a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God, Cain’s bright idea was to kill his brother. Then when he was caught, he still didn’t man up. He didn’t own up to his sin.
How about you? Do you own up to your sin? Do you man up or do you make excuses or blame others? Whether you say you man up or whether you make excuses, we can test you tonight. Do you want to see if you pass the test or not? Do you man up or make excuses? Here goes. This is called the Good Person Test. Would your family members and friends say that you are a good person? What about you, would you say that you are a good person? Are you a good person, yes or no?
The Good Person Test
Yes you say, we’ll let’s test it and see. Are you really a good person? Have you ever told a lie? The answer is so obvious, the question shouldn’t be have you ever told a lie, but it should be how many lies have you told? Hundreds? Thousands? Thousands of thousands? Have you ever stolen anything? Even if it was something small or of little value? Have you ever lusted? Have you ever blasphemed God’s Holy name?
In Revelation 21:8, Jesus says that all liars will have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone. First Corinthians 6:10 says that no thief shall inherit the kingdom of God. In Matthew 5:27-28, Jesus says: You have heard that it was said by them of old time, You shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. Exodus 20:7 says: You shalt not take the name of the Lord your God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that takes his name in vain.
Blaspheming God’s Holy Name
People tend to think that blaspheming God’s Holy name is using God’s name as a curse word, which is true, but it’s also more than that. Attributing something God has done to a mere mortal man is also blasphemy. Atheists blaspheme God’s name with their contempt and their suppression of the truth in their unrighteousness. Blaspheming God is very serious and God says the He will not hold you guiltless for doing this.
In case you aren’t really paying attention at this point, I’ve basically gone over four of the 10 Commandments with you. How did you do? Are you a lying, thieving, adulterer at heart who has blasphemed Almighty God? If so, then you have violated the 10 Commandments and we haven’t even gone over all of them! It’s appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). If you die in your sins, stand before God and He judges you by the 10 Commandments, would you be innocent or guilty?
You’d be surprised at how many people say innocent, even though they admit that they’ve lied, stolen, lusted and blasphemed God’s Holy name? Many people still say innocent, because they think they are basically good. That’s the crux of the problem. Even when confronted with their unrighteousness, many people still won’t admit they are a sinner. So how about you? Will you man up and admit that you are sinner? You have broken God’s 10 Commandments (there are none righteous). Will you admit this?
Innocent Or Guilty?
If you were standing before God on Judgment Day, would you admit your guilt? If God judges you by the 10 Commandments, would He find you innocent or guilty? Heaven or Hell? If you are honest with yourself, you are guilty and you really deserve to go to Hell. If this is you tonight, will you man up and admit it? Does it bother you that if you die tonight you will spend eternity suffering in the flames of Hell? God is righteous, Holy and just and His judgments are fair. Unrepentant sinners really do deserve eternal damnation.
Is this you tonight? Will you admit it? Oh, if this describes you and your conscience is bothering you please pay close attention. Do you know what God did so you don’t have to suffer His just judgment? God sent His Son, Jesus, to this earth 2,000 years ago Jesus did what none of us can do. The Lord perfectly kept the 10 Commandments. In fact, He always did the will of God the Father. Jesus never sinned, not one time. He always loved God with all of His heart, soul, mind and strength.
Jesus Is Lord Of All
Even though Jesus is perfect and sinless, He willingly wen to the cross where God poured His anger out on His own precious Son. Jesus took the punishment that He didn’t deserve. He was bruised for our iniquities. By His stripes we are healed. The Lord suffered, bled and died on the cruel cross. Then He rose victoriously from the grave three days later. Jesus defeated Sin, death, Hell and Satan. Salvation is for all who repent and surrender their lives to Jesus.
Christ Jesus is Lord of all. Again, He paid the sin debt that He did not owe. Instead of being the guilty sinner before God on Judgment Day, your sins can be forgiven. Your guilty conscience can be cleared. If you repent and put your faith in Jesus. Oh, do this tonight. Don’t continue going through life with God’s anger over your sins abiding upon you. Turn to Christ and live. Repent of your sins and submit your life to Jesus Christ the Lord. Be saved. Surrender your life fully and completely to Jesus and receive life, everlasting life.
Everlasting Life
For those of us who repent and believe the Gospel, Jesus says that He will never leave us nor forsake us. Those of us who die in Christ, receive everlasting life. We will spend eternity with Jesus in Heaven. It’s either salvation or damnation. Your eternal soul will spend eternity in Heaven or Hell. Oh, we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). We deserve God’s righteous anger and we deserve eternal damnation. But God in His mercy made a way of escape, but this escape is in Jesus alone. There is no other way of salvation.
Repent and put your trust in Jesus. Man up and admit that you are a sinner. Cry out for God to save you. Repent of your sins and surrender your life to Jesus Christ the Lord. He that believes on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him (John 3:36). Come to Jesus and be saved. Do not harden your heart. Repent and believe the Gospel. Yes, I’m asking you to man up tonight, even though it is politically incorrect to do so in this current cancel culture. But I’m more concerned over your soul than I am about political correctness. Turn to Christ and live.
(This message was lifted up in downtown Springfield MO on August 14, 2020)