Somehow, my friend and I started talking about the tragedy of a mutual friend. "I'd rather not talk about him. People openly questioned how he ever got into such a mess," he said painfully. "One day, before God, he will give his own account, and we will too." "I just pray that I will always have a clear conscience," he added.
Many of us are unaware that a "good conscience" is really a Biblical concept. We wrongly think that if God knows and examine our hearts, why is there a need for having a clear conscience?
Keeping a clear conscience is a must for apostle Paul. His ministry took him everywhere and often it seemed that he had little supervision or accountability. Yet, he took great pain to avoid any impropriety and impression of abuses.
This is how Paul defended himself before his accusers:
"I have hope in God, just as these men do, that he will raise both the righteous and the ungodly. Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and everyone else. After several years away, I returned to Jerusalem with money to aid my people and to offer sacrifices to God" (Acts 24:15-17 NLT).
Having a clear conscience is not only being blameless before men and before God; it is also about being just equally zealous in pleasing God before our accusers.
So, is my conscience clear?
