Weekly Devotional 5-30-16 A seared Conscience
The word conscience comes from the Latin “conscire”, a compound of con (with) and scire (to know), meaning “to know together with, joint knowledge with another.” Thus, conscience is the faculty of man’s knowing right and wrong in connection with laws made known to him internally or externally. Internally God has made Himself known to all persons as John 1:1-9 confirms. In this passage John writes that there is a spiritual light in every person who is born into the world. John adds that even though this light shown into the hearts of man, and though he did not understand it, it was there.
Externally, God witnesses to man through nature. However, that witness is not just knowledge about the existence of things. It is a witness of the source of things, and that all things are because of a Creator. The Apostle Paul wrote; “20For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things” (Romans 1:18-23 NKJV).
Solomon writes, by inspiration of God, that conscience is the candle of God searching the very soul of man (Prov. 20:27). When a natural man dethrones conscience by habitual diso-bedience they become hardened to its voice. Such a voice is an unpleasant interruption to the soul desiring the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the vainglory of life. In order to avoid the distress and self-accusation from conscience, man’s mental faculties instinctively seek to deaden its voice. Hence, the conscience is seared. This is not good news for the natural, or unsaved man, as he will mostly lose the battle to his flesh (his fallen nature) and he will become more hardened toward his God-given conscience and God Himself.
Such a searing is not exclusive to the natural man or the unsaved, but is also the experience of us who are Christians. To avoid this searing we are to put to death the things of our old nature. Paul writes that if we are risen with Christ, and made a new man we are to, “5put to death (our) members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. 8But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. 12Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. 18Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them. 20Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. 21Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 22Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:5-24 NKJV ).
Quite a spectrum presented by Paul in this letter, and if you and I were to practice living this way our consciences would not be seared. Our hearts would be more softened toward God and we would experience God’s peace. Why fight then against our God-given redeemed conscience? Listen to it, for in so doing we are listening to the voice of God.
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Transforming Power; The Work of God on Behalf of Man
Steve Lampman