Few people today, it seems, are willing to take responsibility for their own actions. They try to lay blame upon others and are encouraged in that by many counselors. But God reminds us in Romans 14:12 that ". . . every one of us shall give account of himself to God." That is the ultimate accountability of all men, saved or lost, Christian or unbeliever.
But there is a place of accountability especially for the Christian. It is a place where the Christian's works will be judged by Jesus Christ to determine eternal reward. We read about it in II Corinthians 5:10 — "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every man may receive the things done in the body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." Notice that we all must appear. Consider, too, that we all must appear and that every deed shall be tried, whether it is good or bad.
In the next verse, Paul, still thinking of the same accountability, says, "Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; . . ." The very thought of giving account to God terrified him. That terror drove him to do that which God had called him to do: persuade men. By word, by personal example, and by the power of the Holy Spirit the Apostle Paul sought to live a life and conduct a ministry in a manner that pleased the Lord.
Christian, God has called each of us to be witnesses for Christ. We have the responsibility of speaking for him and, equally important, the responsibility of living for Him. Such a calling is a glorious privilege, but it is not to be taken lightly and conducted frivolously. We, too, shall appear at the judgment seat of Christ to give an account of the deeds we have done in the body. Whether they are good or bad, we shall face them in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. We shall at that time receive reward for faithful service, or suffer loss of reward for unacceptable service. "Wherefore we labour, that, whether present (alive on the earth) or absent (with the Lord in heaven) we may be accepted of him" (II Corinthians 5:9).