for when gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. they show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them. [romans 2:14-15]

 

I’ve commonly run into individuals claiming that they were good people. people who felt their giving made them good. some proclaimed their loving nature and acceptance of others was what made them good. others were “good” plainly because they tried to “be” good. there is, at times, a commonality with the actions of man and the will of God. as stated in the preceding verse, “they show that the work of the law is written on their hearts.” but as the saying goes, even a broken clock is right twice a day. the work of God’s law drives us to love him and his children. it demonstrates his holiness, and HIS goodness. without his good there can’t be good.

just like how we know of God by his creation, we gain a rudimentary understanding of his law through what he wrote on our conscience. when we are born our conscience is fresh, every sin feels heavy. we may know we did something wrong, but we may not know why at the time. over time, and through much sin, our conscience can become calloused. 1 timothy 4:2 calls this process a searing and in the king james version it further calls it being “from a hot iron”. that feeling of shame or fear is supposed to drive us to repentance, and ultimately receiving forgiveness through Christ’s atonement for our sins. without hearing and accepting the gospel, it just lingers and becomes a scarred and hardened heart.

as believers, having been justified and forgiven of our sins through faith in Jesus’s death and resurrection, we are called to walk with a good conscience,

the aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. – 1 timothy 1:5

so how do we gain a pure heart and a good conscience?

ask for it!

create in me a clean heart, o God, and renew a right spirit within me. – psalm 51:10

ask him to reveal lingering sin. go to the Father in full repentance and ask him to give you a new heart! ask for the strength to confront and deal with the sin that is hiding. ask him to open the scars so they may be healed. it’s not the absence of sin that gives us a clear and good conscience, it’s from walking in the light of Christ!

but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his son cleanses us from all sin. if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. -1 john 1:7-9

 

If there is something the Lord has already put on your heart, go to him right now. if you are struggling to see where the hardness in your heart is, still go to him. if you are struggling with where to even to start, go to him and be honest about your faith.

as you do, read ezekiel 36:25-27. hear his promises. let these “i will” statements from the creator of the universe penetrate your heart.

i will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleanliness, and from all your idols i will cleanse you. and i will give you a new heart, and a new spirit i will put within you. and i will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

 

~ joe lorsung