God’s wisdom in how He designed us both physically and spiritually is truly amazing.
PAIN, we all know, whether it be physical, psychological or emotional is an indicator that something is wrong. It’s an alert that we need to take action to protect ourselves, to preserve ourselves…to survive.
If your hand gets too close to fire, God has designed us with a physical warning to immediately move.
CONSCIENCE is a God given indicator to those who aren’t saved that something is wrong spiritually. It lets us know that our thinking, our behavior, our attitude, our character has stepped outside of what is acceptable to God.
Conscience is our internal meter of right and wrong designed to lead us to God…
Paul elaborately describes this in the Romans chapter 2…
Romans 2:14-15 (NKJV)
14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them)
And, it leads to reaction much like some of those to whom Peter preached in Acts chapter 2…
Acts 2:37 (NKJV)
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
CONVICTION is when those who have accepted Christ Jesus as LORD and Savior and been filled with His Holy Spirit are convinced of their sin. There are times when we can become so hardened that our conscience doesn’t bother us, but when we have accepted God’s gift of salvation, it is impossible to be comfortable and content in sin without His Holy Spirit producing the spiritual guilt, godly sorrow and shame that leads to repentance and change.
Jesus told this to His disciples before He went to the cross, as recorded in John chapter 16…
John 16:7-8 (NKJV)
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Conviction leads to reactions much like those in 2 Corinthians chapter 7, the response to His strict rebuke of the behavior of those who were in the Body of Christ.
2 Corinthians 7:9-10 (NKJV)
9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
Conscience and Conviction are both necessary spiritual pain. So, just like physical pain…
If your hand gets too close to hell fire, God has designed us spiritual warnings to immediately move.
Don’t ignore your pain!
BE BLESSTIFIED!
BE BLESSTIFIED! 