Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide

What we call a “conscience” is defined by some as a “sense of ought,” which compels us to do what we believe to be right and to shun what we believe to be wrong.

It has been depicted as an angel perched on our shoulders, whispering into our ears (temptation is portrayed as a demon perched on the other shoulder, whispering into the other ear). The Bible tells us that our conscience can be “good” (1 Timothy 1:19) and “pure” (1 Timothy 3:9), but it can also be “evil” (Hebrews 10:22) and “defiled” (Titus 1:15). Our conscience can “bear witness” (Romans 2:15) and “give testimony” (2 Corinthians 1:12), but if we violate our conscience, it will surely “convict” us (John 8:9).

In Acts 24, the apostle Paul stated that he had always tried to live with “a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men” (Acts 24:16). In Acts 23, he testified that he had “lived in all good conscience before God until this day” (Acts 23:1). Even though he had enthusiastically persecuted the Lord’s church, he always did what he believed to be right (1 Timothy 1:12-13).

The human conscience can be a valuable guide to help us navigate our way through life – but only if it is properly trained.

Your conscience can’t guide you to Heaven, if it’s not programmed to get you there.

A conscience is like a GPS device. It will give you directions to get you where you want to go – but only if you program it for the right destination. It is not possible for any human being to find his way to Heaven on his own (Jeremiah 10:23). When we attempt to do so, we invariably choose the wrong path (Proverbs 14:12). Only with help from the Word of God can we ever hope to find the way that leads to eternal life (Psalm 119:105).

You must train your conscience with the right tools.

The Bible is the road-map that can guide us from Earth to Heaven, but we have to follow its direction. Some people resist the gospel, because their conscience has been trained with the wrong tools (like the Koran, the book of Mormon, the doctrines of men, etc.).

They are like Saul of Tarsus, who persecuted the church; thinking that he was doing what God wanted him to do (Acts 22:1-4; 23:1). They have spent so much of their lives in a false religion that they must unlearn the errors they have come to embrace.

Only the Bible can train our conscience to guide us to Heaven (Psalm 119:11,104,130).

You must be careful that your conscience does not become “seared” (1 Timothy 4:1-2).

This happens to people, when they allow their hearts to become “hardened” toward God (Hebrews 3:12-13). This is what happens, when we become comfortable with sin (Jeremiah 6:15). Also, this is how a conscience becomes “evil” and “defiled.”

Sometimes, the process starts when someone or something “wounds” a “weak” conscience (1 Corinthians 8:12; Matthew 18:6).

We must closely guard our consciences against damage.

However, your conscience can always be repaired and retrained.

As long as there is life left in us, there is always a chance for us to make our hearts right with God (2 Peter 3:9).

The only sins that will condemn us on the Day of Judgment are those of which we will not repent and for which we will not ask forgiveness (Ecclesiastes 12:14). The Bible is a great “tenderizer” of the hearts of men (Hebrews 4:12).

It is simply a matter of our willingness to submit to the will of God.

It’s okay to let your conscience be your guide – as long as it has been trained to do so, by the Word of the Lord!

The apostle Paul was successful in his effort to live with “a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men” – even though he had been an avowed enemy of the church of Christ. The key to his accomplishment was that, when he was confronted with the error of his way, his conscience compelled him to do the right thing (Acts 9:3-6).

If your conscience is urging you to obey the gospel plan of salvation and become a member of the Lord’s church, don’t ignore it! Don’t let your heart become hardened and your conscience seared against the call of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Your only hope of an eternal home in Heaven is to let the Lord show you the way.