When hearing that “for all have sinned” (Rom 3:23), many still take sins lightly, saying “I have not done anything sinful. I have not stolen anything, nor murdered anyone, nor harmed anyone, nor done anything against my conscience…” They regard their conscience as their judge, and because they have not done anything against their conscience, they do not care about their sins. Is it reliable to trust in one’s own conscience?
Many years ago, it is the custom for the Indians to bury the wife alive together with her dead husband if he died first. When they were under the British colonial rule, this cruel custom was banned. The Indians requested, “Please allow us to keep this custom because we do this with a clear conscience.” The British officials replied, “Your conscience tells you to keep that custom, but if you continue doing such a wicked thing, our conscience forces us to hang you.” This shows that human conscience is not a reliable judge.
A man who murdered someone the first time felt conscience-stricken and could not sleep well. If he did not repent but kept on murdering, he would be hardened in his conscience and murder would become a norm to him. The moral depravity and rampant crimes everywhere have made many tolerate sins and regard lies, false declarations, tax evasion, breach of copyright, arrogance, hatred, contempt for others, anger, curse, covetousness, sexual immorality, homosexuality…as a norm because their consciences are not clear and sensitive any more.
Then, what is the standard to judge or condemn sins? That is God’s Word and God’s Law, “for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Rom 3:20). God’s Word is like a Mirror (James 1:23-24), showing us our sinful state and leading us to the Saviour Jesus Christ. It is wise to look at ourselves in a mirror to see how our face is. Please read our next articles.
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