Ac*count*abil*i*ty: the fact of being responsible for what you do and able to give a satisfactory reason for it…[1] especially: an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one’s actions. [2]
Throughout life we are called to account for our decisions and our actions. Maybe while growing up we were asked, “why did you do that?” Or possibly, “why did you do it THAT WAY?” We never liked hearing, “why did you do that when I TOLD YOU NOT TO?” When accountability ends in reward it generally means we executed the task at hand correctly. When punished or reprimanded, we no-doubt made some mistake.
In preparing to write this post I stumbled across an article that spoke about accountability. [3] The article emphasized that accountability has to be implemented…it is important. The author remarked that many people don’t understand what accountability is. Several points were highlighted:
- Accountability starts with you.
- You are accountable.
- Accountability is not a one-time thing.
- Accountability applies to one and all.
- Accountability cannot be delegated.
- Accountability is the difference between success and failure.
Essential to this discussion and what most people don’t think about is that we are all accountable before God! All mankind will either spend eternity with Him in heaven, or will be judged by Him and assigned to the lake of fire. Go look it up for yourself – – – Revelation 20:15. Accountability before God is individual in that YOU must give an account before God. Think you are NOT accountable to God? Think again.
The decision of accountability before God has ETERNAL consequences so you’d better get it right. I’ll break it down for you: Every man, woman, and child are in one of two categories, “in Adam” or “in Christ”. Like it or not, that’s the way it is!
“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:22
- Being born places you in the category, in Adam.
- Being born again [4] places you in the category, in Christ.
Simple as that!
You might say, with great passion, I am a good person. I attend church. I give to the needy. I’m honest in my dealings with my fellow man. I was even baptized when I was younger. Down deep, I am a good person! Can you show me where God, in His word, has told you that is sufficient to spend eternity with Him?
Since you can’t, let me point out what the Bible does say about the natural state of man: [5]
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
“…all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment…” Isaiah 64:6
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked…” Jeremiah 17:9
Don’t be deceived in considering the facts of this claim – –
“There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Proverbs 14:12
Fortunately, God has provided a solution to the quagmire of a life designated, “in Adam”. BUT that solution must be accepted from God – by faith or trust in what He has done. Pay attention to the accountability issue – – when (not if) you stand before God will you tell Him that YOUR solution is better than His? OR will you allow His standard to prevail?
“And…be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own…but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.” Philippians 3:9
Accountability before God comes down to this – –
“He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:18
“To the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.” Romans 4:5
In temporal matters accountability is constant, but in eternal matters accountability is a one-time decision. Better consider that option before it is too late.
“…it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment…” Hebrews 9:27
Accountability before God applies to one and all (point 4). No one else can make this decision for you – you cannot delegate (point 5) this responsibility to anyone else. Getting accountability before God right is the difference between success and failure (point 6).
“He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36
The article emphasized that accountability has to be implemented…it is important. The author remarked that many people don’t understand what accountability is. Hopefully you now understand the implementation and the importance of accountability you have before God.
[1] https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/accountability
[2] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accountability
[3] https://www.inc.com/gordon-tredgold/7-truths-about-accountability-that-you-need-to-kno.html
[4] John 3:6-7
[5] The natural state of mankind = In Adam.