So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. - Romans 14:12 (ESV)
It had been a long day for Randy Smith. What was suppose to be a fun day helping the McDonald’s move into their farm house quickly turned into a day filled with sadness when Bill called to say Harold had been hit by a truck and was in the hospital. To make it even worse he learned that it was the McDonald’s that were driving the truck that hit him. Instead of helping them unload, he spent the day counseling them and praying for Harold.
When Randy finally got home that night, he was heading to the kitchen to get a bite to eat before heading to bed, when he thought he heard Louie crying. “Not more problems.” he thought to himself as he headed to Louie’s room to find out what was wrong.
“Why did we do it? Why did we do it?” Louie was saying over and over when Randy stopped outside his door and than he let out a loud scream when Randy called his name. “Who are you talking to?” Randy asked. Half afraid to answer, Louie said “I’m t-t-t-talking to G-G-G-God.”
After a moment of silence Randy asked Louie if he was the one who had been hiding in the bushes when Harold was hit by the truck. “How did you know?” Louie asked in return. “Harold’s Dad told me someone was hiding in the bushes and I remember you saying you were going to be playing with him. Do you want to tell me the rest of the story?”
“It sounded like fun,” Louie began to say “and than we ran to keep from getting in trouble and than, than... Harold wasn’t suppose to get hit by that truck. Is he going to die?” “I don’t know if he will die or not.” Randy replies “ But, what I want to know is why did you run?”
“Your not going to repeat your sermon on Jonah are you?” Louie asked with a sigh. “Do I need too?” Randy asked in return. “No.” Louie answered, “I still remember what happened to Jonah when he tried to run away.”
Running away never helps,” Randy went on to tell Louie, “I think you and Harold learned that the hard way. You need to be responsible for your actions. 2 Corinthians 5:10 says we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body (NLT) And you know what Louie? You won’t be able to run.”
“What’s going to happen now?” asked a saddened Louie. “For you, you’ll be grounded,” answered Randy, “and for Harold, we need to keep praying.”
So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (ESV)
In the book of 2 Samuel we read of King David and his departure from doing what was right for an evening of pleasure with a woman named Bathsheba. We also read that he got her pregnant, and tried to cover up the fact by having her husband, Uriah, come home form battle to sleep with her but he wouldn't and so David went to plan B and had Uriah killed, made Bathsheba his wife, and no-one would ever know the truth but plan B had a problem - God saw it all.
As one continues to read, one learns that David was confronted by the prophet Nathan and ends up judging himself guilty of death. And while God spared David the death sentence, he still had to suffer consequences for his actions.
- His first child by Bathsheba died (2 Samuel 12:18)
- His household rebelled against him (2 Samuel 15:13)
- His wives were given to another in public view (2 Samuel 16:20-23)
- Murder became a constant threat in his family ( 2 Samuel 18:14-15)
We would be good to remember that there are and will be consequences for what we do.
- Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. - Galatians 6:7 (ESV)
- So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. - Romans 14:12 (ESV)
- God will judge everything, even what is done in secret, the good and the evil. - Ecclesiastes 12:14 (NCV)
- But remember that anyone who does wrong will be punished for that wrong, and the Lord treats everyone the same. - Colossians 3:25 (NCV)
- And I saw a great white throne and the one who sat upon it, from whose face the earth and sky fled away, but they found no place to hide. I saw the dead, great and small, standing before God; and The Books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to the things written in The Books, each according to the deeds he had done. The oceans surrendered the bodies buried in them; and the earth and the underworld gave up the dead in them. Each was judged according to his deeds. - Revelation 20:11-13 (TLB)
Here's Something to Ponder
- Actions have consequences
- What are the potential consequences of your actions
- For self
- For others
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