Final Accounting (Lent 38—2013)

Imagine that today, you’re standing before God, the Judge:

Having to give an account of your life.
Having to own up to all your sins.
Having to acknowledge the many ways you violated God’s commands.
Having to confess all the ways you capitulated to the culture.
Having to explain why you took the wide, easy road of personal comfort and convenience instead of the way of holiness.

And then having your fellow man stand as a witness to how you judged him and placed obstacles–through your example, your acquiescence, your judgments by human standards, or your wrong-headed teachings–to his finding mercy in God. Worse, for the person living in sin that you refused to point to the truth of Jesus Christ, he will face an eternity of torment apart from the mercy of God.

That day is coming.

As surely as Jesus was heading to the Cross during Passion Week, He heads to the Great White Throne of Judgment and before Him, we will each give an account.

Romans 14:10 You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 11 It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.'” 12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way. (NIV)

So, the question you and I face is:

How are we doing with our final accounting?

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Give it up for Lent: Living for comfort and convenience instead of holiness

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For further study:

Read Revelation 20:11-15. How ought that influence how you live today?
The accountability for our actions is articulated elsewhere in Scripture. Read Psalm 62:12, Jeremiah 17:7-10, and 1 Peter 1:17. What does it mean to live our lives here in “reverential fear”?
How is enabling people to live in sin nothing short of placing a stumbling block to their coming to faith? How is the truth spoken in love necessary?