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Do you have something on your conscience that is bugging you to death? Let’s examine how it is that we can clear our conscience.
A human conscience is not, in itself, reliable. Some people have so hardened their hearts and seared their consciences that they cannot hear their conscience. Others have had such poor training that their consciences never developed properly.
However, when we are born from above through faith in Christ, our conscience becomes a tool which God uses as an alarm system. The Apostle Paul, in testifying before Felix, said, “I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man” (Acts 24:16). Paul wrote this to young Timothy: “I am giving you this command . . . so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience . . .” (I Timothy 1:18-19).
Therefore, it’s important for us to keep our conscience clear for our own relationship with God and for the testimony we have in our world. How do we do that? I’d like to provide a few suggestions.
Make a note of whatever it is that is bothering your conscience. Perhaps it’s something in the past which you’ve let slide. Maybe it’s a relationship you’ve neglected, or a dishonesty that you’ve never made right. It could be bitterness or a bad attitude that you’ve harbored in your heart against someone. It may be seemingly inconsequential, but nonetheless, it’s sitting there on your conscience, bothering you. Simply write down all the things that are on your conscience.
Now, ask yourself if any of those things on your list have already been dealt with. If you’ve dealt with it—for instance, you’ve asked forgiveness or made restitution where necessary—but it’s still on your conscience, then it’s likely false guilt which your enemy, Satan, is dumping on you to defeat you. In that case, you need to turn that guilt over to God, rebuke the enemy, and declare that by God’s grace you are free! Satan would love to see you bogged down in false guilt. Don’t let him get by with it. Simply declare that your guilt and conscience are free and clear on that issue.
