SCRIPTURE: Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter; Fear god, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.

(14) for god shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

INTRODUCTION:

Our age we tends to BLUR DISTINCTIONS and throw everything into a "GRAY AREA" but in the Scripture matters are rather more CLEAR CUT.

In the world there are good people and there are bad people: those who lovingly obey their God and those who stubbornly reject Him.

(Romans 2:5-10) But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.

(6) Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

(7) To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

(8) But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey, unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

(9) Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile:

(10) But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that wortheth good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:

(Romans 6:16) Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey; his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

It is worth asking how people get to be the way they are.

I. OUR CHARACTERS ARE THE ACCUMULATION OF THE DECISIONS WE HAVE MADE.

A. First . WHEN WE ARE DISSATISFIED WITH OUR PRESENT STATE IN LIFE.

It is tempting to blame circumstances beyond our control on some one else or, to think we would be better off if we had been given a better hand in life.

B. Second .YET, IN ALL THE IMPORTANT WAYS, WE ARE EACH THE PRODUCT OF DECISIONS THAT WE HAVE MADE IN THE FREEDOMN OF OUR WILLS.

We have voluntarily though, spoken, and done the things that have made us what we are.

Our character are built up NOT FROM our external circumstances, but from what we have chosen to do with those circumstances. . CONTRAST SAUL WITH DAVID. . But now you kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded you (I Samuel 13:14) . . "So Samuel said to him, "The Lord has torn the Kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you" (I Samuel 15:28)

David was better than Soul----because he had made better choices, not because he had better circumstances.

C. Third . WE NEED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT WE HAVE MADE OF OURSELVES.

We are what we have CHOSEN TO BE.

We are self-made person (UNFORTUNATELY), the self-made person is often the product of UNSKILLED LABOR!

We reap what we sow. . (Galatians 6:7) . Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

D. Fourth. DECISIONS AND CHOICES HAVE A CUMULATIVE EFFECT. THEY TEND TO "SNOWBALL."

Even "LITTLE" choices are more SIGNIFICANT than we might think.

Every decision and every act changes a person for better or worse. Future choices have to be made by a person who has been shaped by the choices already made. With every one of even the slightest deeds, we are BUILDING UP A CHARACTER and a self that will find it PROFRESSIVELY more easy to act in certain ways and more difficult to act in others.

NONE OF US IS STANDING STILL. . With every choice we are becoming more like God or more like Satan. (John 8:44-47) . Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. (45) And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. (46) Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? (47) He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

(Eph 4:17-19) This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind.

(18) having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

(19) Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

(Hebrews 5:14) But strong meat belonged to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

II. IT IS SOBERING TO THINK THAT EVERY ACT COUNTS

A. First . GOD WILL TAKE EVERY ACT INTO ACCOUNT IN HIS JUDGING OF OUR LIVES

No decision is too small to be significant.

(Matthew 12:36) "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment."

B. Second . AS CHILDREN ON THE PLAYGROUND.

We may have said, 'THAT DIDN'T COUNT" or "I HAD MY FINGERS CROSSED"

But when God judges our lives, NO such excuses will be accepted.

We may think we are merely being careless or haphazard, but the consequences of our choices are eternal and we are responsible for them.

C. Third . HELL WILL NOT BE ARBITRARY PUNISHMENT OF PEOPLE WHO ENGAGED IN CERTAIN ACTS.

It will be the (telos) (END, GOAL, OUTCOME) of those acts, the inevitable consequence of actions that we chose.

(Romans 6:21) What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.

God will not "INADVERTENTLY" or "MISTAKENLY" consign anyone to eternal punishment.

Only those will be there who demanded to be there by the choices they made.

And few of those will be people who set to be wicked. "Sooner or later, we must all sit down to a banquet of CONSEQUENCES.

It is dangerous and detrimental ever to say no to God---even once.

(Hebrews 12:25) See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake in earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven

III. IT IS ALSO ENCOURAGING TO THINK THAT EVERY ACT COUNTS

A. First . WE CAN NEVER TRULY SAY THAT OUR LIVES ARE HELPLESS AND HOPELESS.

We can do something that will alter the present situation.

B. Second . WE CAN ACT IN THE FAITH THAT STEPS IN THE DIRECTION OF GOODNESS AND TRUTH

However small and seemingly insignificant, it will make a difference.

Jesus is watching you where you are.

God does not require larger steps of righteousness that we cannot manage.

Only steps in faith, confessing our sin and coming to Him in faith.

God is not looking for people who can do everything, but for those who are willing to do what they can!

C. Third . HEAVEN WILL BE THE OUTCOME IF WE LEARN TO CHOOSE ACTIOPNS THAT TEND TO LEAD US IN GOD'S DIRECTION.

(Romans 6:21-23) What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? Had the end of those things is death:

(22) But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

(23) For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

IV. CONCLUSION

A. First . LIFE IS SERIOUS BUSINESS -- IT PAYS TO LIVE CAREFULLY.

(Ephesians 5:15) See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,

Let us be sobered by the fact that each action reaches into eternity, and takes responsibility for the bad choices we have made.

And on the other hand, let us be encouraged knowing that we can make a difference for good in our lives by an act of faith in God

HE CARE'S FOR YOU, SO MUCH HE GAVE US JESUS, let us be grateful for the opportunity He has given us.