A DAY OF
ACCOUNTABILITY
INTRODUCTION
A Day of Accountability, a day of reckoning, is revealed throughout God’s Word; with many living as in the pre-Flood days of Noah, being godless and unconcerned until that notable Day of Judgment materializes right before their eyes; as in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah, and Babylon the hold of every foul spirit! There is Pandora’s Box of Evils being poured out upon the earth with no forethought as to a Day of Accountability.
A Day of Accountability
Judgment
Apostle Peter revealed a Day of Accountability in that God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; spared not the old world (pre-Flood days of Noah), but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly.
He turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemning them with an overthrow (destruction), making them an example to those that after should live ungodly; delivered just Lot, vexed (oppressed) with the filthy conversation (conduct) of the wicked; for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed (tormented) his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds (2 Peter 2:4-8).
Rise of Ungodliness
Are we seeing the pre-Flood days of Noah rise again? Scripture reveals: In those days the earth was corrupt before God, filled with violence; that all flesh (with the exception of Noah and his family) had corrupted its way upon the earth (Genesis 6:11-12).
Are we are seeing the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah rise again; even utilizing God’s sign of mercy (the rainbow), to earmark its flaunting of sin; are we are seeing the nature of Babylon, the habitation of devils (foul spirits), rise again with the morals of the land taking a nosedive to make way for the evils of mankind to flourish, ignoring a Day of Accountability that is coming unless repentance comes as in the days of Nineveh.
Scripture reveals that upon hearing Jonah, a
man of God, proclaiming a Day of Accountability (judgment) within forty days,
the people believed God, turned away from their evil way, and violence that was in
their hands; God saw their works, that they turned away from their evil way, and repented (relented) of the evil that he had said that he would do to them;
and he did it not (Jonah 3:10).
Opportunity to Repent
Apostle Peter wrote: Whereby the world that then was (pre-Flood days of Noah), being overflowed with water, perished; but the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against (until) the Day of Judgment (Accountability) and perdition (destruction) of ungodly men (2 Peter 3:6-7). Peter identified why it has yet to happen: The Lord is not slack concerning his promise (destruction of the ungodly), as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
Opportunity was afforded for repentance in the pre-Flood days, by Noah a preacher of righteousness, but ignored; in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah, by Lot, a righteous man, but ignored; and Babylon, by an angel of God crying out: Come out of her, my people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues (Revelation 18:4). God has His watchmen, sounding the alarm, but ignored by many due other areas of life taking priority.
Day of the Lord
Apostle Peter, in declaring a Day of Accountability wrote: The Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night (totally unexpected by some), in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat (could be a nuclear holocaust, cosmic happening, or God simply speaking the Word), the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up (2 Peter 3:10).
Then an appeal is made by Peter: Seeing that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation (conduct) and godliness (2 Peter 3:11). A far cry from what we are seeing today; even among some churches, having withdrawn from the Unadulterated (Pure) Word of God, to suit their own desired lifestyle.
Revival in the Church
As worldliness engulfs some in the church; such terms as sanctification (being set apart unto God), righteousness (doing what is right in the sight of God), and holiness (without which no man shall see the Lord – Hebrews 12:14), are being pushed aside to make way for a secular culture invading the church and nation.
Scripture reveals that Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify (set apart) and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word; that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish (Ephesians 5:25-27).
Does the church, having withdrawn from such precepts, not need revival before leading others in the way of righteousness? Apostle Peter warned: Seeing that you know these things before (beforehand), beware lest you also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness (faithfulness); but grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:17-18).
Beyond This World
Apostle Peter revealed to the believers in Christ: Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness; seeing that you look for these such things, be diligent that you may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless (2 Peter 3:13-14).
It was noted that Peter was urging his readers to look beyond this present world to the new heavens and new earth wherein righteousness dwells. Peter identifies the characteristics of the ungodly: Those who walk after the flesh (fleshly desires) in the lust of uncleanness; spots and blemishes, reveling themselves with their own deceiving while they feast (fellowship) with you.
A heart they have exercised with covetous practices; having forsaken the right way and gone astray. Peter concludes with: These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; in whom the midst of darkness is reserved forever (a Day of Accountability) (2 Peter 2:10-17).
Accountability for All
A Day of Accountability (reckoning) is coming for all! Scripture reveals: It is appointed unto men once to die; but after this the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). It was noted that when people conduct their lives as though there is no God who knows and judges every person, evil can abound.
The most dangerous society is one in which people have no sense of accountability to God, and no fear of God. People need to be informed that God judges and saves; truly believing this is life transforming. We can accept the work of redemption Christ accomplished for us and have our sins forgiven and be welcomed to a home in heaven, or we can stand before God in that great Day of Judgment and be sentenced to eternal separation from Him.
Standing before God
Apostle John wrote: I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works (Revelation 20:12); whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire (Hell) (Revelation 20:15).
It was noted that the dead are the unbelieving dead of all the ages; they are judged from two sets of books. The books contain the record of every unsaved person which clearly shows such are guilty of rejection, of the offer of salvation, deserving of eternal death. The Book of Life contains the name of every person who has received eternal life through faith in Christ.
Divine Wrath
Jonathan Edwards sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” contained these words: Consider the fearful danger that you are in: You hang by a slender thread, with the flames of divine wrath flashing about it, and ready every moment to singe it, and burn it asunder. You have no interest in any mediator, and nothing to hold on to save yourself, nothing to keep the flames of wrath away, nothing of your own, nothing that you have done, nothing that you can do, to induce God to spare you one moment.
Those words still ring loud and clear today towards endangered souls who are about to descend into eternity without the benefit of a Savior (the Lord Jesus Christ), unless repentance comes prior to a Day of Accountability.
Voices of the Past
Voices of the past reveal: If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering and to prosper; but if we neglect its instructions and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glory in profound obscurity (Daniel Webster). If we ever forget that are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under (Ronald Reagan).
Voices that clearly foreseen devastation, a Day of Accountability, if man continues to purse what is warned against! The Prophet Daniel foretold: There shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation; and at that time my (God’s) people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book (Daniel 12:1). God has readily made His Word available to all; yet a Day of Accountability is forthcoming to all who reject that Word, and Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Declaring God's Judgment
The Book of Jude recorded a forthcoming judgment: The Lord comes with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment (a Day of Accountability) upon all, and to convince (convict) all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard (harsh) speeches, which ungodly sinners have spoken against him (God); these are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaking great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage (flattering to gain advantage) (Jude 1:14-16).
Revival is drastically needed in lands that have been polluted by the ungodliness of man; giving in to the evilness of mankind; lands that have enlarged their sinfulness by spreading their agenda to others! Israel of old was influenced by other nations roundabout into worshiping false gods; a Day of Accountability was forthcoming then; as it will be to any who forsake God, and His Word, allowing ungodliness to manifest itself.
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