Proverbs 20.27
“The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts.”
God has given every person an inner conscience, which is what Proverbs means by “the spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord.” The word conscience is very enlightening. Con is Latin for “with,” and science means “knowledge.” Thus the word conscience literally means “with knowledge.”
Conscience is an essential element of our God-designed mental, moral, and spiritual capacity. It is the inner awareness of moral standards. The biblical idea of conscience is that it serves as a witness to the truth (Rom. 2:15, 9:1). Conscience triggers a dialogue within us about right and wrong, and it often makes its presence known through our emotions. When we align our behavior with what is right, we feel a sense of purpose and peace. But when we violate the standards of our conscience, it induces anxiety or guilt.
Conscience is an inner warning system of the heart, and it signals us when (and often before) something we have done (or about to do) is wrong. Conscience is to our spirit what pain sensors are to our body: it signals moral danger, in the form of guilt, whenever we violate what our hearts tell us is right.
Now here is the critically important truth to understand about conscience: It is a trustworthy guide only when it is informed and directed by God and his truth. Remember what the word “conscience” means = “with knowledge.” If the conscience operates with proper knowledge, it leads us in the right direction. But if the conscience is misinformed (that is, if it operates with false knowledge or distorted standards) then it will lead us astray.
The Proverb quoted above tells us that a God-directed conscience searches and evaluates your innermost thoughts and motives. It searches your heart and speaks to you about right and wrong. It is for this reason that you must pay very careful attention to the content of your heart.
“Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments and live. Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you … Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” (Proverbs 4.4-6, 23)
More tomorrow …
