0452. A Good Conscience

A Good Conscience

"Brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day" (Act_23:1).

The Apostle Paul was always a man who lived up to his light.

Even when he was the greatest of sinners, he had a good conscience. He said concerning himself: "God, Whom I serve from my forefathers, with a pure conscience" (2Ti_1:3).

When Paul was persecuting the saints, he was persecuting ignorantly, and in unbelief; but with self-assured honesty.

When Paul was lost, his morals were unimpeachable. His conscience was free from condemnation. When Paul was saved, he lived with the same good conscience, he could truthfully say, "I know nothing against myself."

We want to ask ourselves the question–"Have we, with Paul, an equally good conscience?" "Are we sincere?" Can we say at the close of each day and month and year: "So far as I know, I have done God’s will"? "I know nothing against myself"?

Of course, ignorant sinning will lead us to disaster, but purposeful sinning is far worse. "He who knew his Master’s will and did it not, shall be beaten with many stripes; he who knew not * * and did not, shall be beaten with few stripes."

It is the obligation of every one, first of all, to find out, by every possible means, the complete will of God; and then to so live, that a good conscience may be our constant and happy possession.

In the silence of the twilight,

When the day is done,

Then review each thought and action,

Count them ev’ry one;

See if you have followed fully

In the path of light,

Does your conscience now assure you

You have done the right?

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR