For we must all appear before the judgment seat of
Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to
what he has done, whether good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:10
There are many motivations in
the Christian’s life. One is our awareness that one day we will give an account
of our lives to Christ, as He sits in judgment upon humanity. It is much more
comforting to believe that Christians will be ushered into heaven with no
questions asked about our faithfulness upon earth, but that is not what
Scripture says will happen. Paul cautioned that in the final day of judgment
every Christian will give an account for his or her actions. This expectation
terrified Paul and motivated him to strive to please God in everything he did
(2 Cor. 5:9-11). Paul knew that although he might ignore the Spirit’s quiet
voice during His life on earth, a time of accounting would come when he would
have to explain why he had rejected God’s instructions. Paul never carelessly
assumed that, because of all he had done for God’s kingdom, God would overlook
his sin. Instead, he understood that to whom much is given, much is required
(Luke 12:48). God does not force His will upon us. He will ask us to answer for
the way we responded to Him. Christians have been pardoned by the sacrifice of
Jesus. We are not condemned. But because God is absolutely just, we will be
called on to give an account of our actions. The Christian life gives a
tremendous freedom, but it also brings a pervasive sense of our accountability
to God and to others. We can learn from Paul that
accountability is healthy; it gives us a powerful motivation to please
God.
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