I am amazed as of late at the inability of our culture in America to recognize right and wrong. It seems as though men and women are attempting to make up their own rules on how life should be lived. Public opinion or what is politically correct has now become the new standard of human behavior, even if it is contrary to the Word of God. The fact will always remain, “Right is still right and wrong is still wrong.” Galatians 6:9 (Taylor’s Translation) declares, “And let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after awhile we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up.” The Barclay’s Translation admonishes, “We must never get tired of doing the right thing.”
Those Who Call Good Evil and Evil Good
Isaiah 5:20 warns us, “Woe to them that call evil good and good evil; and put darkness for light and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” The Basic American Standard Bible says, “Cursed are those who give the name of good evil, of evil to what is good.” And Taylor’s Translation tells us, “they that say what is right is wrong, and what is wrong is right.” Noah Webster once said, “The Bible must be considered the great source of all truth by which men are to be guided in government and as well as all social transactions.” We won’t be confused on life’s issues when we embrace the Word of God as our standard and guide for our lives. Right is still right and wrong is still wrong!
The Decline of Good Conscience in the Church?
In Acts 23:1 we read, “And Paul, earnestly beholding the Council, said, ‘Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.” The TCNT declares, “I have always ordered my life before God, with a clear conscience, up to this very day.” The Knox Translation declares, “All my life I have behaved myself with full loyalty of conscience toward God.” Billy Graham once said, “Conscience tells us in our innermost being of the presence of God and the moral difference between good and evil.” Augustine of Hippo once said, “A good conscience is the palace of Christ; the temple of the Holy Ghost; the paradise of the delight, the standing sabbath of the saint.” A good conscience embraces the truth about life from the Word of God and refuses to violate right for wrong.
Exercising our Consciences to be Void of Offense
Acts 24:16 declares, “And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God and men.” The TCNT declares, “…To keep my conscience clear before both God and man.” The Berkley Translation declares, “…To have in all respects a clear conscience in my relationship with God.” The Message Bible declares, “I do my best to keep a clear conscience before God and my neighbors in everything I do.” The Apostle Paul not only knew right from wrong, but he exercised his conscience to clear itself from any wrong toward his fellow man and God. Are you in need of clearing up some wrong between you and God or your fellow man? Have you attempted to justify something that your conscience knows is wrong? Make that adjustment and acknowledge the truth and exercise your heart to be void of offense toward God and man!
Avoid Being Shipwrecked
1 Timothy 1:19 declares, “Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some have put away concerning faith and have made shipwreck.” NEB tells us, “…It was through spurning conscience that certain persons suffered shipwreck.” Here we find that when we disregard the Word and our conscience we will end up shipwrecked in life. Basically we get off course and run our lives into the rocks. I want to encourage you to maintain a tender conscience before God and always obey the Word. Listen to your heart. Thank you so very much for your gracious support and love toward this ministry. We appreciate you greatly and believe for His best always.
