Salvation Assured THE MOUNTAIN OF YOUR CONSCIENCE
And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last. John 8:8, 9.
The first four mountains that we have talked about that block our way downward, causing us to stop, realize, and think, are mountains that would be found primarily in civilized countries. The Bible, the sermon and songs that we have heard, our better judgment, and the prayers of our friends and loved one who are Christians. The last four mountains would be perhaps more universal in application.
The first of these would be conscience. Conscience. Romans 2:15 talks about it. The Gentiles who had not the law of God found that their consciences witnessed to something. You can read about them. In lands where there has been no gospel preached, no education in spiritual things, no associates who have already accepted Christ, conscience speaks.
We have a hard time trying to define conscience. It's sort of nebulous. Sometimes we say it's the Holy Spirit. Well, no, it's more than that; or less than that--whatever. It's different from that. The Holy Spirit works through the conscience. Most of us know what it's like to be convicted by conscience. You see a group of men one day, planning to throw stones at a woman. Suddenly they stop, and with bowed heads and downcast eyes, slip away. Their consciences had convicted them. (See John 8.)
Conscience is present in the young, in the child. It is present in the old, if it hasn't been seared. And it takes a long time to sear a conscience. I remember telling a lie to my father when I was 4 years old. I've looked at my own children since. Four years old! How did I even know what a lie was, let alone tell one? I can still remember that lie. And for seven years it was on my conscience. Had anybody told me that I had a conscience? I didn't know much about a conscience at age 4. But something was convicting me. I'll never forget the peace the night I went into my father's bedroom at age 11, after he had gone to bed, and asked him to forgive me for the lie I had told at age 4. I dare say we all know what a conscience is all about. And the conscience is another mountain, another hurdle, that one would have to get past if he wanted to be lost.
And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last. John 8:8, 9.
The first four mountains that we have talked about that block our way downward, causing us to stop, realize, and think, are mountains that would be found primarily in civilized countries. The Bible, the sermon and songs that we have heard, our better judgment, and the prayers of our friends and loved one who are Christians. The last four mountains would be perhaps more universal in application.
The first of these would be conscience. Conscience. Romans 2:15 talks about it. The Gentiles who had not the law of God found that their consciences witnessed to something. You can read about them. In lands where there has been no gospel preached, no education in spiritual things, no associates who have already accepted Christ, conscience speaks.
We have a hard time trying to define conscience. It's sort of nebulous. Sometimes we say it's the Holy Spirit. Well, no, it's more than that; or less than that--whatever. It's different from that. The Holy Spirit works through the conscience. Most of us know what it's like to be convicted by conscience. You see a group of men one day, planning to throw stones at a woman. Suddenly they stop, and with bowed heads and downcast eyes, slip away. Their consciences had convicted them. (See John 8.)
Conscience is present in the young, in the child. It is present in the old, if it hasn't been seared. And it takes a long time to sear a conscience. I remember telling a lie to my father when I was 4 years old. I've looked at my own children since. Four years old! How did I even know what a lie was, let alone tell one? I can still remember that lie. And for seven years it was on my conscience. Had anybody told me that I had a conscience? I didn't know much about a conscience at age 4. But something was convicting me. I'll never forget the peace the night I went into my father's bedroom at age 11, after he had gone to bed, and asked him to forgive me for the lie I had told at age 4. I dare say we all know what a conscience is all about. And the conscience is another mountain, another hurdle, that one would have to get past if he wanted to be lost.
RSS Feed
