Accountability!

Accountability!

In our present-day society, both here and around the world, there seems to be a significant lack for exacting accountability. Within our system of government, and especially within our judicial branch, there appears to be a great loss of holding individuals accountable for their actions. When such things take place there is created a lawless environment for people to live within. This is certainly not a very good situation or setting for us to try and maneuver ourselves as we go about our daily activities. Yes, I do realize we are to show mercy to one another, yet we must also be held responsible for what we say and do in this life, especially if it brings harm to others.

Let it be known that no matter what might take place in this world, or how inappropriate and evil actions are dealt with in unacceptable ways, by those in authority, there will be a time of accountability. This world is not the final judge, nor will it be the one who exacts righteous judgement on each person. The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 3:19, “Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.”

Yes, we all live under the law and if we are merely judged by the law we are in deep trouble, because we all have sinned and fall far short of being the kind of people God desires us to be. Left to our own defense there is nothing to expect but to have the Lord’s condemnation fall heavy upon us. And are we to think it should be any different for us as sinful human beings? No!

But thanks be to God there is a way of redemption which has been made available to us. In Jesus Christ there is forgiveness and mercy for you and me. It is not that you or I will not have to give an account for what we have done in this life, but the great blessing in our Savior Jesus is that those failings will not be what keeps us out of heaven.

Why is such a belief so? The Father brought His judgement not on us but on His only begotten Son. Jesus was the one who was held accountable for our sins, as He took those sins upon Himself and carried them to the cross, and then paid for them with His broken body and precious blood. By His wounds and sacrificial death we are set free from hell and the condemnation we rightfully deserve! In John 8:34 Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So, if the Son sets you free, you are free indeed.”

We are held accountable as witnesses for Christ, and we are to serve Him not because of fear of judgement, but because we longer have to worry about judgement. That my friends is a freeing feeling for us to experience and live under as redeemed children of God! Pastor McCarty