A
GOOD CONSCIENCE
The dictionary defines
“conscience” as “the internal recognition of right and wrong, with the
compulsion to do right; a moral judgment that opposes the violation of a
previously recognized ethical principle.” But “blind ambition” will disregard
conscience and go for what it wants, no matter what. The Bible tells us that
“in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing
spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their
conscience seared with a hot iron” (1 Tim. 4:1-2).
If we continue to act
against our conscience, we get burned; repetition of wrong thinking numbs the brain
reactors like scar tissue, and we are no longer sensitive to right and wrong. So
we’ll do what we want rather than what God wants.
The end does not justify
the means. God wants us to stay righteous today, not later, when we’ve
accomplished what we think we want. Ambition is good, but only under the
distinct leadership of the Lord.
The news is riddled with
horror stories of what many actors in Hollywood, singers, and sports figures
have compromised to get to the top. Morals, ethics, and a sense of right and
wrong go right out the window because being a great star is what they want more
than being a great person.
People get tempted to
compromise on morals because they think they’ll lose something, like a job
promotion or a boyfriend or girlfriend, for instance. We are so afraid of
losing something that we do things we know are wrong and even harmful to us.
But honestly, we have nothing
worthwhile to lose if we endeavor to live with a good conscience toward God.
Hebrews 13:5 says: “Let your conversation be
without covetousness, and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath
said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
People misunderstand the
part that says to be content with what you have. They think it refers to our
present job, physical possessions, etc. But what God is talking about is what
we really have: every desire fulfilled by Him. Psalm 37:4: “Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee
the desires of thine heart.”
The Apostle Paul gives
us a great goal: “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before
God until this day” (Acts 23:1). And when he was accused, in Acts 24:16, he answers:
“Herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense
toward God.”
No matter the
circumstance, big or small, let’s keep our moral compass on the truths in God’s
Word and decide to do the right thing without compromise. And if we think our
conscience has been seared in any way, pray to God to be led to where we can be
delivered of the damages we’ve suffered, and get clean of all things natural
and spiritual that may be misdirecting or blocking our Godly conscience.
Love, Carolyn
My new book, BIBLE
LESSONS FROM NATURE, contains lots of great true-life stories on a variety
of things we see in nature that God uses to teach us about Himself and the principles
of life.
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