ACCOUNTABILITY DAY

ACCOUNTABILITY DAY

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad. —II Corinthians 5:10

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, therefore all died.  And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again. —II Corinthians 5:14-15

Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God.  God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. —II Corinthians 5:20-21

            What a sobering fact! You and I are going to be appearing “before the judgment seat of Christ.” He is going to review our lives. We are accountable to Him for the good and bad that we have done while living here on planet earth. Yes, this is very sobering to think about, but also should encourage us to live faithfully for Him.

            Let us be thankful that there will be no condemnation at this judgment for we who believe because Jesus already took that judgment for us. But our “workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work.  If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward.  If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as if through the flames” (I Corinthians 3:13-15). So am I living for that which is eternal or temporal?

            Just as our Lord spoke through Paul, the other Apostles and the disciples of his time, so He does through us today. God makes His appeal through us for people to be reconciled to God. Just as God’s love compelled believers at that time to not “live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again,” so also it should be for us. So the question I have is: Am I living for myself or for Him who died for me and rose from the grave? Am I truly living with eternal values in view or temporal values?   Hmmmm….

Dear Father may I live faithfully for You and for others and not for myself. May this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.