Bible Reading: Psalm 36-37; Acts 23:1-11
“And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.” Acts 23:1 KJV
Conscience is that part of your mind that tells you whether what you are doing is morally right or wrong. Good is also defined as having the required qualities of a high standard. So good conscience therefore means doing what is morally right using a high standard. However the conscience can be conditioned by your repetitive actions. So if you do the wrong things most of the time, your conscience will get to a level that it will not see anything wrong in such actions any more. ( 1 Timothy 4:2). When such happens, people can cheat, lie, steal or even commit murder without their conscience raising any eyebrow! ( Ephesians 4:19). This is the position with most criminals; their conscience is warped and they are cursed as stated in Isaiah 5:20 (KJV), “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”
Fortunately, such warped, corrupt or seared conscience can be cleansed. That is why Apostle Paul, who tormented apostles and other children of God before he became a christian, could become an apostle himself. After meeting with the Lord Jesus Christ, the converted apostle said in Acts 23:1 (KJV), “And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.”Things were turned around for Paul by the Lord Jesus Christ. He was on his usual journey of persecution when he got near Damascus and a light shined around him and asked why he was persecuting Him and unaware of the force around him, he asked who he was and Jesus introduced himself! (Acts 9:3-5 ). Your case may be worse or not as bad as that of Paul but Jesus can handle them all. Call on Him and He will transform your mind and life completely.Such transformation can only take place if you are ready to accept Him as your Lord and Saviour. Once you accept Him, you need to study the word of God regularly so that you can know the truth and all your erroneous beliefs that seared your conscience can be reversed. Also you need the baptism of the Holy Spirit who will teach you all things. Jesus said of the Holy Spirit in John 14:26 (KJV), “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
To live in good conscience, therefore, requires that you continuously study the word of God, which will help you to guard against sin (Psalm 119:11) and fellowship continuously with God in prayers.
Action Point: Examine yourself whether you are living in good conscience before God and if not, go to God for forgiveness and amend your ways.
Brother Joel Ezeugo