Can You Rely on Your Conscience?
Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron. (1 Timothy 4:1–2 NKJV)
We live in a time where wrong is perceived as right, and right is perceived as wrong. But wrong is wrong, even if you don’t get caught. Wrong is wrong, even if others are doing worse things.
As we look at the life of Joseph in the Book of Genesis, we see that he had a rough time. He had a rough childhood. He had really mean brothers. He had been taken from his homeland to a foreign place. He was living in Egyptian culture surrounded by Egyptian morals. So when Joseph was enticed by Potiphar’s wife, the culture would have said, “Go for it.” But Joseph knew it was wrong.
God’s standards are absolute. They don’t change. Even if the culture changes, God’s Word does not change.
Wrong is wrong, even if it doesn’t bother your conscience. Sometimes people say, “I feel good about this. . . .” I’ve actually had people say to me, “I feel good about having sex with my boyfriend. It’s okay. The Lord spoke to me and said I am cool.”
God didn’t say that, because God won’t contradict His Word. When someone makes a statement like that, they’re saying, in so many words, “My conscience isn’t working anymore. My heart has gotten hard.”
If your conscience doesn’t show you that what you’re doing is wrong, that is a problem. In fact, the Bible talks about having your conscience seared as with a hot iron (see 1 Timothy 4:2). But as Billy Graham taught, Christ can resensitize your conscience.
You should not always let your conscience be your guide. Your conscience can mislead you. Instead, you should let the Bible be your guide. This is the one absolute you can always stand on. This is the one absolute you can always be certain of.
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