Conscience is not a sure guide. It is however most necessary, just as a compass is most necessary for the mariner at sea; but what good would a compass be to one who did not know in which direction he should. be traveling? The mariner needs a chart, to give him the right and safe course, and the compass to tell him in which direction he is traveling. We have both. We have the Word of God to mark out the path for us through this tangled scene, and our conscience to remind us when we start in the wrong direction. God’s Word also tells us the end of the path, and what a terrible end there is for the sinner who goes on in his sins!
The conscience of every man tells him that he is a sinner, but we were noticing last month that the believer has a purged conscience through the finished work of Christ. The Lord Jesus has so perfectly answered to God for all our sins that we are now “perfected forever” and “clean every whit.” What a blessed position to be in before God! What great cause it gives for thanksgiving to that blessed One who has done it ALL.
There is however a need, after one is saved, of maintaining a good conscience before God and men. This is most important. Not a purged conscience—Christ’s finished work has won that for us—but a good conscience. In fact I do not know of anything more important to a walk with. God, and how sad it is to see Christians who are not exercised in this matter. It does not seem to concern them whether they please God or not in the little things. They would shrink with horror from great sins, but they seem to be careless about the little things as though they did. not matter at all. God warns us in His Word about these “little foxes” which spoil the vines with their “tender grapes.” (Song of Solomon 2:1515Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes. (Song of Solomon 2:15).) Communion is so easily broken, and although we may go on with a fair outward appearance, the inward joy will be gone if we are not maintaining a good conscience.
Surely we do well to remind ourselves of that verse “Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away, concerning faith have made shipwreck.” 1 Tim. 1:1919Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: (1 Timothy 1:19). There are three steps in getting away from the Lord: first, losing the joy of the Lord; second, giving up a good conscience; then, shipwreck of faith. Shipwreck of faith is not necessarily being lost—a true believer never could be—but it is a path of open dishonor to the Lord, and of such one often has to say, as did. Paul of old, “The Lord knoweth them that are His.” The outward marks of a true Christian are riot seen in their lives.
O dear young people, in these days of increasing carelessness, how needful that we exercise ourselves “to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men.” Let us never “side step,” or tell “white lies,” or allow “little” sins. If any of us have done this, let us own it to the Lord at once and be restored instead of making excuses. It is so necessary that we do not lose this most important thing—a good conscience—if we wish to have a happy, fruitful, Christian life. We will be able to face the world and our brethren with holy boldness, as well as to have sweet confidence in prayer, only in the measure in which we maintain a good conscience. It is priceless!
ML 04/30/1950