Minister's Corner - 222 You Do Not Have To Answer

Loved ones, parents usually expect the children to answer when they are questioned about their behavior. We wonder what we would do if we questioned one of our small children, and he responded with, "I don't have to answer you."

Now that we are adults, things are much different. We find considerable satisfaction in not having to answer for our behavior if we do not want to do so. We can readily say to husbands or wives, "I don't have to answer to you." We can sit and hear a sermon that indicts our conduct and go right on with the conduct. There is nothing the preacher can do about it.

We can say to the elders who might come to us expressing concern about our conduct, "I don't have to answer to you." We can say the same thing to friends. What about answering to God? Does it seem strange to you that God didn't plan for a way to personally confront us as a parent might when we have been disobedient and demand an immediate answer? For whatever reason, this is not the way our Heavenly Father chose to go about it.

One of the big mistakes we make in so often determining that we do not have to answer to other people is that we will never have to answer to anyone. Nothing could be further from the truth. Someday, we will be called upon to answer, and we will answer (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; 2 Corinthians 5:10).

God has chosen that there will be a day of answering. We might defy all humanity, but we can never defy Almighty God. The sad part about this approach is that it will be too late to say, "What I did was wrong, but I'll do better now." God expects us to know right from wrong and to behave accordingly. If someone who loves you calls your conduct into question, you might give serious thought to answering for that conduct. If you wait for God to call for an answer, it will be too late. God is so good. Love you. Samuel – 16 Aug 26