Walking with the Wise #74: A Clean Conscience

“The way of the LORD is a stronghold to the blameless,
 

but destruction to evildoers.”
—Proverbs 10:29 

God’s way is the only way one can live and have a clean conscience. It is the narrow way that few find (cf. Matthew 7:13-14). One may walk the broad road, living any way he or she wants, but their conscience will continually testify against them. As Paul wrote,

“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 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus”—Romans 2:14-16.

The way of the LORD is the way of integrity—as one seeks to love God and love man in a way befitting one who has been transformed by the Spirit of God. The way of the LORD means being decent and fair in one’s personal and business dealings, upright and honest in relationships, and conducting oneself in the hope of having and maintaining a clean conscience.

For those who reject the way of the Lord, there is only one alternative that can have multiple disguises—the way of wickedness. Wickedness has many different forms—outright evil, hedonistic pursuits, "self-actualization," false religion, and even legalistic devotion. But each path is marked by anything else but the suffering and sacrifice of Christ as seen supremely manifested on the cross.

Christ paved the way for us to get to God, and it is a stronghold for us who walk in that path. We can have our consciences cleaned through appropriating His death on the cross for our sins. He rose again enabling us to have peace with God, a cleansed conscience, and newness of life. We need to remember that on the path to God we will encounter opposition, but we will nevertheless have peace (John 14:27). We will face slander, but are to stand in truth. We will suffer, and for some of us, we will pay the ultimate price by giving our life. Even then we need not fear, for what can man do to us (cf. Psalm 56:11; 118:6)? We need not fear those who can kill our mortal bodies. No, our fear is of Him who can damn our souls (cf. Luke 12:5).

What way are you living? Are you walking on the narrow road that leads to life or on the broad road that leads to destruction? One is a stronghold of God that enables us to have a clean conscience before God and man, and the other leads to destruction, death and damnation. Repent, trust in Jesus, and He will put you on the path that leads to life for the honor of His name and your joy. Amen.