A FAITHFUL DOG
Our conscience is a lot like a faithful dog. The dog will bark a warning at every little thing that is out of the ordinary. If a cat wanders nearby, the dog barks. If a skunk drifts through, the dog barks. And, if a raccoon sneaks around, the dog barks. Pretty soon the dogs’ barking gets on our nerves, and we either start to ignore it or we silence the dog. Because we have hardened our hearing to the bark of the dog, when serious trouble comes around, we don’t listen to the warning that our trustworthy friend has given. The thief in the night has come to steal our belongings (our heart, mind, and soul), and we have not listened to our conscience.
Sin in our life is a lot like the cat, the skunk, and the raccoon. Cats are surefooted and calculating, skunks waddle around and smell real bad, and the raccoon is curious and always getting into places that it shouldn’t. Sin is the same way. It is calculating, it stinks, and it is always taking us where we shouldn’t go.
Because God has put the law in our minds and He has written it on our hearts, our conscience is continually "barking" a warning to us. Don’t ignore the warning bark and harden your hearing to the voice of your conscience. For as it is written, "today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion....... So I swore in my wrath, they shall not enter my rest." And, if you don’t listen to your faithful dog, your conscience, neither will you enter that rest. Your conscience is God’s voice.
What is our Conscience?
Conscience - Con means "with", science means "knowledge". Therefore, our conscience is "with knowledge".
In his letter to Timothy paul writes, "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 Chapter 4:1-2).
From our understanding of the conscience to mean "with knowledge", what does it mean to be with knowledge, and what is that knowledge?
I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10; 10:16). Therefore, our knowledge is that which God has put in our minds and He has written on our hearts. We have the knowledge of sin through His law.
Since we now know that we have a conscience filled with knowledge, what role does our conscience play in our lives?
- To know right from wrong based on God’s moral Law the Ten Commandments.
Romans 1:20, 25 (without excuse)
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
Romans 2:14-16 (our conscience bears witness)
14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
- To know when we are being offensive, a stumbling block, to another.
Romans 14:13 (don’t be a stumbling block)
13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way.
1 Corinthians 8: 9, 13 (liberty can be a stumbling block)
9 But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
1 Corinthians 9: 19-23 (use your conscience to serve)
19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20-22....... I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.
1 Corinthians 10:23,24, 29, 31-33 (not your conscience, but the conscience of others)
23 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. 24 Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being. 29 "Conscience," I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man's conscience? 31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
- If someone’s conscience has been hardened how do you wake it up?
Romans 3:19,20 (the law is the knowledge of sin)
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Romans 7:11, 13 (except for the law, I would not know sin)
7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "You shall not covet." 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me.
Some phrases you can use when addressing the conscience are "You know right from wrong." "God gave you a conscience." "Listen to the voice of your conscience. Let it remind you of the sins of your youth."
In part based on the teaching, "Hell's Best Kept Secret".
All text excerpts are from the New King James Version Published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville
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