Today’s Devotional: “A Clean Conscience”

Think about what this photograph says. Now consider the title of today’s devotional.

We all have a conscience, and while we may be able to analyze it through philosophy, there’s no way to control it.

The conscience has been defined as that still, small voice inside that says what we’re doing is wrong, or as that which feels good is actually harmful to us.

And while people say, “Let your conscience be your guide,” our consciences are not that reliable, because more often than not they insist that what we’re doing is okay so we don’t feel bad.

The writer of Hebrews addresses this dilemma by contrasting the Mosaic covenant and its sacrifices, which neither forgive sin nor cleanse the conscience, with the New Covenant sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, which does.

“This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper … How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” (Hebrews 9:9, 14)

We often try to make amends for our wrongs through various means, such as going to church, making restitution, giving to charity, or trying to live a better life. While there’s nothing wrong with these efforts, they’re useless when it comes to clearing, if not cleansing, our consciences.

The cleansing of our consciences can only occur through an internal work of the blood of Jesus, not through our outward manifestations.

Following the law and doing good by the world’s standards may lead to a good conscience, but it doesn’t cleanse. Only the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses.

So, it isn’t important to have a good or clear conscience; instead, it’s vital to have a cleansed one. A good or clear conscience will still lead a person to hell, whereas a cleansed conscience will lead to everlasting life.