0451. Conscience Defined

Conscience Defined

"Which shew the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing one another" (Rom_2:15).

There are many misconceptions concerning conscience.

Many people seem to imagine that if their conscience prompts them to do a certain thing that it is all right for them to do it. Conscience, however, is not an unerring guide. Conscience is a child of concepts.

Let us seek to define conscience: It has been said that conscience is a personal vigilant eye before which every imagination, thought and act is held up to censure or approval. This definition is very good.

Our conscience is something within us which approves or disapproves, accordingly as we follow or forsake our own best judgment.

God has placed within each of us, something that cries aloud against us whenever we do anything that we know to be wrong. Conscience is the detective, the sleuth dog, which watches the trend of our steps and decries every conscious transgression.

Conscience is not infallible in making a choice; in fact, choosing is not the mission of conscience.

Conscience merely tells us whether the choice we make is according to our honest convictions.

There are those who say, "I see no sin in smoking, or, in card playing, or, in dancing, or in theater going, or, in dram drinking," and they may speak honestly. But because they see no harm, is not proof sufficient that such things are harmless.

If one is brought up in an atmosphere contaminated by miasma, they may breathe the bad air with good conscience; but that does not make the air good.

The thief may claim that he is justified, because of his environment, to steal; but that does not make stealing right. One may sow tares and think he is sowing wheat, but his harvest will be tares.

The supreme need of every life is in an enlightened mind. We need to be taught the Truth. We need to live in the light; then our conscience will have good play.

Oh, list to the voice of your conscience,

Speaking to-day;

Oh, do not refuse now to hearken,

Haste to obey.

Ask God to enlighten your conscience,

Turn on the light;

And then when you list to its dictates,

You will be right.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR