Not a free ride to do whatever

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, 

that each one may receive the things done in the body, 

according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

2 Corinthians 5:10

There are many motivations in the Christian's life. One is our awareness that one day we will give an account of our lives to Christ, as He sits in judgment upon humanity. It is much more comforting to believe that Christians will be ushered into heaven with no questions asked about our faithfulness upon earth, but that is not what Scripture says will happen.

Paul cautioned that in the final day of judgment, every Christian will give an account for his or her actions. This expectation terrified Paul and motivated him to strive to please God in everything he did (2 Cor. 5:9–11). Paul knew that although he might ignore the Spirit's quiet voice during His life on earth, a time of accounting would come when he would have to explain why he had rejected God's instructions. Paul never carelessly assumed that, because of all he had done for God's kingdom, God would overlook his sin. Instead, he understood that to whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48).

God does not force His will upon us. He will ask us to answer for the way we responded to Him. Christians have been pardoned by the sacrifice of Jesus. We are not condemned. But because God is absolutely just, we will be called on to give an account of our actions. The Christian life gives a tremendous freedom, but it also brings a pervasive sense of our accountability to God and to others. We can learn from Paul that accountability is healthy; it gives us a powerful motivation to please God. - Blackaby Experiencing God Day by Day 

We do not come to Christ only to receive, but to give.  We come as those once dead yet now are alive.  We come as those who also will give an account of what we have done in this body since coming to Christ. 

Many preachers don't preach on this topic. 

Accountability is not taught much in many so-called Churches.  Why? Because it hurts!  Why? Because it involves responsibility.  

When left to our own devices we will certainly go do our own thing.  One who is accountable to another will second guess pretty much everything because they know they will be asked about what they have been doing. 

Accountability isn't a bad thing but I think it's been painted to look that way, thus why it's avoided by more Churches than accepted. 

We do not have a license to sin in this life. 

Every careless word will be asked about.  Our rage at wanting personal justice that included a profanity laced tirade will be brought up one day before Christ.  We who are in Christ will give an account of what we have done in this body. 

Look at your life.  How do you see yourself?  Ok. Now. How do you think God sees you?  Not by your standards of good and bad, by His.  We automatically don't think we're really that bad.  Welcome to the deceitfulness of the sin nature. 

I am certainly ashamed of much of my personal life, let alone what people have seen.  I do not look forward to giving an answer to why I have done, said or thought the things that I have.  

We do not have free reign to just do whatever we want in life.  From work to recreation.  We have what God has for us to be doing.  We have been compared to workers in the fields according to Scripture.  Workers are to be working. 

Thanks to how poorly made a great deal of things are these days we are certainly challenged in the area of getting to work as God had intended. We spend a great deal of time getting things fixed. Or we overspend so we have to work more to compensate.  It's a struggle for sure. 

Getting our attitude and thinking right is a struggle too.  But it's not insurmountable. 

Prayer is the beginning of everything.  I know a man who has been out of Church for a great many years yet God was still with him.  He was praying without even knowing he was. God was still answering. 

What are your priorities? Because those too will be asked about. 

What's important to you? Because that will be asked about. 

Take time today to look at your life.  Look to see if you can find a Godly man, for men or a Godly woman for women,  to help you with staying accountable.  Men should not be having women as accountability partners.  It opens the door to sin and temptation.  Same is the reverse, women should not have men as accountability partners for the same reason. 

Look at what you need to change.  I am constantly looking at my life.  Mistakes happen but intentionally repeated mistakes are a choice.