Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
This passage of scripture which represents the first of the three angel's messages given to our generation, brings to light the sacred truth of accountability, a topic that is hardly ever spoken of by many theologians in contemporary Christianity. We hear a whole lot about love and the year of mercy, but almost never of the fact that our life records will be brought before God for review, and that the verdicts that are given in the heavenly tribunal will ultimately determine the eternal destiny of all earth's inhabitants.
There is a hymn that is often sung in which some of the words go like this, "Take my life and let it be". Most people, including many Christians are not fully aware of the import of that song, because Christ will take our lives one way our another. If we give our life to Him, He will take it for preservation, and if we refuse to give Him, He will take it for destruction, but any which way He will take our lives. The reason for this sacred truth is that we are God's property, both by creation and redemption, and therefore the Bible teaches us not independence from God, but accountability, as a fact that all human beings must come to grips with, sooner or later. Let's read:
1st Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Therefore it is imperative for our own good, that we observe the very essence of what the first angel is saying, for in our day there seems to be increasing moral abandon, with no thought of being held responsible for our words, thoughts, and actions. The current issue that is being hotly debated in religious and political circles, has at its core, the issue of accountability, for we are witnessing the resurgence of an age old pagan philosophy, which teaches that the laws of men should be implicitly obeyed, even when they force us to do evil.
If as Christians we were to adopt that false maxim, then we will be succumbing to the idea that there is no greater authority in the universe than man, and therefore our highest priority would be to serve the powers that be, without any compunctions of conscience, when they demand that we do evil. But because the first angel's message informs us that we all have to answer to a higher authority, it is therefore necessary that we prioritize our obedience to God, as being the first and foremost of our loyalties, and secondarily, the laws of men, if the do not force us to disobey the God of heaven.
The reason for this is that the eternal destiny of earth's teeming multitudes depend on that order of priority, as far as loyalty goes, and since most great religions of the world, including Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, and even paganism, all teach about a future life, then it will be consistent with that belief, that we all take into account the fact that God will execute judgment for the inhabitants of the earth, and therefore, all who choose to continue living a life of sin, will be forever debarred from the pearly gates, to be destroyed with satan the root, and his followers, the branches, in the fires of the last great day. Let's read:
1st Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Malachi 4:1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings".. 3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.
Let us therefore so live and do, as those who will be held accountable for the deeds that are done in the body, whether they be good or evil, for the days of our probation here on earth are swiftly drawing to a permanent close, and the results of the heavenly tribunal may never ever be reversed, once the books of records are forever closed. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which confirms this sacred truth, and it is the will of God that we now be found in Christ Jesus, who is the One and only way out of our predicaments. Let's read:
Revelation 22:10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. 11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. 12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His word. "Good night" and God bless!