The British economist Josiah Charles Stamp once observed, “It is easy to dodge our responsibilities, but we cannot dodge the consequences of dodging our responsibilities.” The truth of this statement is one of those life lessons that many must learn the hard way. The book of Proverbs is full of warnings about consequences when we neglect our duties. “Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep, but while you are asleep, poverty will attack you like an armed robber.” “The one who works his land will be satisfied with food, but whoever chases daydreams will have his fill of poverty.” Even people who don’t believe the Bible realize that the consequences of dodging responsibilities can be unpleasant. They keep busy maintaining their houses and cars and businesses because these things need regular attention to avoid costly breakdowns. Sadly, in our secular society, most neglect their duties to their God.
On this higher level it is important to realize that the Lord holds us responsible, especially when He has called us and revealed His precious promises to us. James makes it very clear when he tells us, “To him therefore who knows to do good, and doesn’t do it, to him it is sin.” We cannot be defiant to God’s call and blind ourselves to his commandments without consequences. Jesus warns of judgment to come when he says, “I have come into this world for judgment, so that those who are blind may see, and those who see may become blind.” Jesus clarifies who is responsible when he answers the next question: “And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, are we blind also? Jesus replied, ‘If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin, but now because you say that you can see, your guilt remains.’ ” The Pharisees were responsible because although they saw and understood the message of Jesus, they refused to respond to it.
Paul tells the Colossians, “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done.” Our work in this life should be done with the attitude that we are serving our God and all that we do is for His glory.
Paul warns of judgment to come, “[God] now commands all men everywhere to repent because he has appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness.” However, although the gospel has been preached worldwide, there still are many people who live and die without ever being exposed to the Bible or the saving message it contains. God is merciful and He will not raise to judgment those who do not know Him. The Psalmist tells us, “Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.”
The secular world is much more demanding that people be held responsible for its regulations. The rule is that ignorance of the law is no excuse. For instance, when it comes to driving a car, the driver needs to know the laws of the state in which he is driving. It is no use saying to the police, “Officer I did not know that you are supposed to drive on the right side of the street since I just came from England where we drive on the left.”
Since the Lord knows exactly what we each know and do not know, He will not make a mistake and raise from the dead those who were ignorant of His commands.
How much knowledge makes us responsible? Deciding not to obey God implies we know we should. Our former friends who liked to party with us before we accepted the call of the gospel could well be judged by Christ after resurrection because they did not make the choice to serve God. Peter explains, “You have spent enough time in the past doing what the heathen like to do. Your lives were spent in indecency, lust, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and the disgusting worship of idols. They insult you now because they are surprised that you are no longer joining them in the same excesses of wild living. But they will have to give an account of themselves to him who is ready to be the judge of the living and the dead.” These words from the apostle Peter, an inspired writer of scripture, give a sober warning to fun loving rejectors of the truth who could well have to face the judgment seat of Christ. The words, “judge of the living and the dead” make it clear that this judgment happens after the resurrection because the dead are judged. Truly these who reject the call of the gospel dodge their responsibilities to God, but they will be unsuccessful in dodging the consequences of avoiding their responsibilities.
Abraham confidently affirmed, “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” We know that God always does that which is right. God knows those who choose not to serve him. Let us not dodge our responsibilities, because we certainly will not be able to ignore the consequences of our responsibilities. We will have to face our Lord and answer for those things we did and did not do that either pleased Him or displeased Him.
Let us make sure that we are putting the Lord first in our life. We long to hear from his lips those words he has promised to say to the faithful; “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One