Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. Hebrews 10:22 HCSB
Conscience is defined as an inner feeling or voice viewed as acting as a guide to the rightness or wrongness of one’s behavior. Thomas Wolsey said, “Be honest in every way and enjoy the peace that only a clear conscience can bring you.” John Wooden said, “There is no pillow as soft as a clear conscience.”
We spoke recently about the difference between the conviction of the Holy Spirit and the guilt brought on by the devil. When we accept Christ as our Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us. The Holy Spirit convicts us of wrongdoing. Our conscience is that little nudge that tells us we are doing wrong or sinning.
I often hear people say, “How could they do such a thing?” or “How can people be so mean?” Well, many people lack a conscience. They are doing the devil’s work and they have come to the point where they are not concerned about righteousness or being right with God.
When we are right with God, we can have a clear conscience. In 1 Timothy 4:1-2 it says, “Now the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared. These false teachers can teach demonic doctrine because their consciences are seared. They are desensitized to the truth having been burned by demonic deception.
We must pray for wisdom and discernment continually. There are many passages in the Bible warning us not to be deceived. This demonic deception can literally burn the nerves that cause us to feel and turn them into scar tissue. We see this in people who have no conscience and no compassion for others.
Our Scripture passage tells us to draw near with a true heart and have our hearts sprinkled clean. Once we have confessed our sins, Jesus is faithful to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We are told this in 1John 1:9.
When we do this, we are sanctified or set apart and purified. We are told in Titus 1:15 that to the pure all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.
Are you living in the peace that can only be afforded by a clear conscience? Have you confessed your sins to God and truly repented? Have you been washed clean by Jesus’ blood?
Our consciences are purified by the blood of Jesus Christ which cleanses us from dead works to serve the living God (Hebrews 9:14).
Having a clean conscience is not always easy. Acts 24:16 says, “I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.” But the consequences of not having a clear conscience is much worse. 1 Timothy 1:19 says, “Holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made a shipwreck of their faith.”
If you want to have peace and joy in your life, you have to have a clear conscience. We were created to be in close fellowship with God. Our sin separates us from God. This is why the Holy Spirit convicts us of that sin. Once our sin is forgiven, it’s the devil that tries to make us feel guilt and shame. He wants us to believe we are hopeless.
Our conscience is not to be ignored, it’s that gentle nudge from the Holy Spirit telling us we are not in right standing with God because of our sin. The only way to clear our conscience is to turn to God, confess our sin and repent. Ask God to strengthen us so that we can give our sin up and over to Him.
Having a clear conscience doesn’t mean we will not be slandered, but Peter said in 1 Peter 3:16, “Having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.”
If your conscience has gotten a little muddy, God will help you clear it up. Turn to Him today.
Have a great day!