“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience.” (Heb. 10:22a NIV)
When I was about ten years old, I went to the five & dime store with my dad where there were shelves and shelves of toys. When nobody was looking, I slipped a little toy into my pocket and left the store with my dad and did not pay for it. My conscience immediately started to bother me. That night I couldn’t sleep and imagined the worst-case scenarios. I was a thief! I had stolen something. I imagined being arrested and taken to jail! The next day, my dad had to go back to the same store to get something and I went with him. I secretly slipped the toy out of my pocket and back onto the store shelf. I immediately felt a great sense of relief and happiness.
The conscience
Webster’s New World Dictionary defines the conscience as: “a knowledge or sense of right and wrong, with a compulsion to do right; moral judgement that opposes the violation of a previously recognized ethical principle and that leads to feelings of guilt.”
Someone asked an old Indian for his definition of the conscience. He said, “A conscience is a wheel within your heart with sharp arrows pointing outward. When you do something wrong, the wheel turns and the arrows hurt you. But, if you continue doing it, the points break off.”
The Bible says you can sear your conscience
“Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” (1 Tim. 4:1-2)
Guard your conscience and keep it in good shape
“Having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.” (1 Pet. 3:16)
“Keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.” (1 Tim. 1:19)
