20 October | Youth
«They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.» Romans 2:15, NIV
Our conscience is our internal database for decision making. The question is: From what source is our conscience being fed? I often meet young people who say they trust their conscience.
Those who say this do not even know what consciousness is. It is an internal impulse that gives us perception of what is happening around us.
Norwegian theologian Ole Hallesby said that “conscience is consciousness of a holy, superhuman law.” The apostle Paul calls conscience the inner law that reflects the law of God written in our hearts.
Our conscience witnesses our actions and exposes them, evaluating them based on its ethical criteria. What does a witness do? They tell what they saw and heard. Paul says that our conscience sometimes accuses, sometimes defends. It accuses us when we do something wrong. Paul uses the gerund, “bearing witness,” in the original, with the intention of showing that it is active all the time.
What about when my conscience conflicts with the Scriptures? That is the problem. Our conscience is not infallible. It could be wrong. It can be perverted. It can harden.
For each individual, the function of conscience depends, to a certain degree, on their experience, maturity and, mainly, on the amount of truth that is stored in their mind.
Therefore, our biggest challenge is to provide our mind with true information on which it can base itself. Therefore, the Word of God must be our rule of faith and practice. Without it as a standard, consciousness can get lost in the world’s wanderings.
The Bible is the moral compass that helps us control our conscience. Make it your companion today and always. Feed on divine revelation and allow your actions to be shaped by God’s will and spring from a pure and clean conscience.