0458. A Convicting Conscience

A Convicting Conscience

"And they, * * being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one" (Joh_8:9).

Conscience may sleep for a long time.

Conscience may have been "evil" or "defiled." In our key text, conscience is fully aroused.

The Lord Jesus had discovered to the bickering scribes their guilt.

They who had condemned another, were themselves condemned.

They stood convicted before the bar of their own consciences.

Christ had brought to their memory the deeds of their own corrupt lives.

Convicted in their consciences they turned and went away.

The brethren of Joseph, for a long time had covered up their sin, but, when they stood before Joseph they said, "We verily are guilty concerning our brother."

God is able to bring one’s sins to the surface.

Job seemed to be quite oblivious to his sins, until he also saw God and heard His voice and then he cried: "I abhor myself."

Peter wakened to a new sense of sin when he saw the miraculous draught of fishes, and in it all, the Deity of the Son of God: then Peter cried "Depart from me, oh! Lord, for I am a sinful man."

Zacchaeus, who climbed the tree in order that he might see the Lord, saw more than he had desired. He saw himself; saw his sins; and, when he dropped down from the tree, he said: "If I have robbed any one, I will restore them fourfold."

The prodigal boy went away from his father with a conscience buried beneath a stubborn will, but when he had wasted all his substance, and when he sat among the swine herd, his conscience was fully aroused, and he cried: "I have sinned."

Sinner, stop, take time to think–

Death is coming, on the brink

Of eternity you stand–

God is making His demand

For your soul.

Does not conscience stir you now–

Will you not believe, and bow

At the feet of Christ, and know

He will wash you white as snow–

Make you whole?

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR