ACCOUNTABLE TO HIM

They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit. (1 Peter 4: 4-6)

Accountability isn’t something that people like to acknowledge or even think about. Is that not the reason there are atheists in the world? It’s not so much about a belief system that honestly denies the existence of God. To use the word “God” is to acknowledge His existence. It is impossible to believe in something that does not exist. If God did not exist, it would be like saying, ‘I do not believe in paragoodles!’ We don’t talk about paragoodles because there is no such thing, and yet we talk about God because He is.

The real issue is accountability. If someone conveniently hides behind his insistence that God does not exist, he can fool himself into thinking that he can live as he likes and get away with it. However, that still does not excuse him from having to answer to God. In fact, it compounds his guilt because he is lying about God as well as living recklessly in sin.

Every human being is born with a conscience and a God-consciousness. It cannot be otherwise because every human being is created in the image of God. We are inextricably linked to our Creator, whether we like it or not. We are His offspring (Acts17: 28). We are ‘from Him and through Him and for Him’ (Rom. 11: 36).

The problem is that being aware of coming judgment does not stop people from living wildly and recklessly. It only intensifies their wickedness because they know their day is coming. The devil is well aware that his doom is sealed and his judgment is sure. The Holy Spirit constantly makes him aware of that!

When He (the Holy Spirit) comes, He will convince the world about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. (John 16: 8a, 11).

God is inescapable. David knew it well when he wrote:

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, ‘surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night about me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. (Psa. 139: 7-12)

Instead of running from God, he ran to Him because he knew that, in God he was safe from His wrath when he was honest about his sin.

Solomon’s conclusion, after exploring every possible way of living that would give meaning to him, was:

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. (Eccles. 12: 13, 14)

Peter touches on a very real problem. People who live wildly and recklessly in sin do not want to go down alone. They will do everything they can to take others down with them. Paul was also aware of this when he wrote:

Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practise them. (Rom. 1:32)

We can be sure of one thing: just as surely as every person will die, just as surely, every person will face God and give an account of his or her life to Him.

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from His presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and the books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. . . Anyone whose name was not found in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:11, 12, 15)

The only place of safety from the judgment of God is the ‘ark’ – the Lord Jesus Christ, because God’s judgment on sin has already fallen on Him!

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Luella Campbell