Age Of Accountability

If we have built our own altar to turn away from the Lord and to offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, or to sacrifice fellowship offerings on it, may the Lord himself call us to account. Joshua 22:23

When I was a boy of perhaps ten years old I asked my mom if every child goes to heaven when they die. Now my mom was no great theologian, but she explained to me that a child always automatically goes to heaven when they die, except when they reach the age of accountability. Then they must choose whether or not they go to heaven.

I was horrified at the possibility that anyone could choose to not go to heaven. I dreaded reaching this numinous age when one might, instead of going to heaven, end up in hell.

God holds us accountable in certain ways. Anyone with a long term disability or ongoing affliction who is limited in their service to the Lord wrestles with their inability to do anything in service for the Lord.

We feel like “we ought to be doing something” as Christians. We find ourselves in a wheelchair or upon our sickbed and wonder if the Lord is disappointed in our lack of service. And wonder if He might one day hold us accountable for our “fruitless” life.

The truth is that even if we were in the best of health we could never do enough for our Savior. All of our works pale in comparison to His one Great work of bringing salvation to humanity. Our “works” are filthy rags by comparison.

All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. Isaiah 64:6

Our Lord holds us accountable for believing in Him. Once we do that our Salvation is settled forever. As for works, yes He will reward us for what we do in His Name. However, it will not be based upon our inabilities, but about what we can do. If all we can do is love people and show them Christ in small ways, I believe Jesus will reward us for that. The best way to serve Him is to be like Him in this world.

Prayer: Dear Lord, we often feel that in some way we are letting You down. But help us in whatever way we can to lift You up to the world around us. Amen.