For November 5, 2006, the three chosen readings are Isaiah 53:10-12 (God bruised Jesus); Hebrews 4:9-16 (rest for God’s people) and Mark 10:35-45 (sitting on His right hand). While some congregations will also celebrate this Sunday as the Sunday of All Saints, the text chosen to preach about is Hebrews 4:13 which reveals, “And there is no creature hidden from His sight; but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”

To give account not only sounds a littly scary as I pen this on Halloween night but downright legalistic. That is, what account can I possibly give to God except that I have been a poor, miserable sinner deserving nothing but temporal and eternal death? Doesn’t sound very reassuring, does it? Sounds more like every other religion in the world that speaks of Judgment Day as the experience when you will learn whether you have accounted sufficiently for yourself to go to heaven.

What is interesting with this verse is the original Greek word for “account.” It is “logos” as used in John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word (logos)” referring, of course, to Jesus Who became flesh for us. However, “logos” also has a number of other meanings depending on the context. In this verse it means “account” as found in these other passages:

“Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.” (Luke 16:2)

“So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:12)

“They (unbelieving Gentiles) will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.” (I peter 4:5)

So it is clear that the context points to the Day of Judgment when you have to give an account to God of your works. Scary? How does this differ from all other religions which speak of giving an account to a god of your works. Are you ready? Have your works been sufficient to merit heaven or….?”

Obviously, we need help. And the help comes in keeping in mind what is absolutely unique only to the Christian faith; that is, the proper distinctions between Law and Gospel. All other religions are those of the Law in which salvation is based on your contribution of works to merit heaven. But Christianity promises salvation not to those who work but to those who believe in Jesus Christ as Savior.

In the very next verses we find the answer to our dilemma. For we do have a High Priest Who did for us what we were unable to do for ourselves. In essence, through His perfect obedience and substitutionary death on our behalf, He merited heaven for His followers.

For you see, the acocunt of works that we present to God is not that of our own but that of Jesus Christ Who exchanged His perfect works for our sins. Judgment Day is not a Halloween Eve we need to fear but rather to that which we can come boldly to the throne of grace and obtain mercy and find grace which helps us in our need to provide God with an account of works that will result in our entrance into heaven!