THE CONSCIENCE
OF A NATION
INTRODUCTION
The conscience of a nation curtails lost spiritual leadership that once looked to God as Deliverer and Provider; opening the door for devastation, chaos, and destruction! There is an influx of ungodliness as in the pre-Flood days of Noah, Sodom and Gomorrah, and Babylon the hold of every foul spirit.
The Conscience of a Nation
Inborn Sense Right and Wrong
It was noted that conscience is an inborn sense of right and wrong, by which we judge the moral character of human conduct which was damaged by the fall of mankind in the days of Adam and Eve; due to disobedience to God’s Word, by partaking of the forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 3:6).
The forbidden fruit has
been continually consumed since that eventful day; even after God destroyed all
that He created, due to the corruptness of man in the pre-Flood days of Noah; with the
exception of eight souls in the ark of safety.
The conscience of a nation towards longevity is in the keeping power of
a heavenly Father and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ; until disobedience with an
unrepentant heart plays into focus!
Dismissal of God
Scripture reveals: He (God) increases (makes great) the nations, and destroys them; he enlarges (spreads out) the nations, and straitens (guides) them (Job 12:23). It was noted that we live in a culture that is increasingly hostile to God with many having dismissed God from their lives. No individual, or nation, will be good without God. Nations ancient and modern have been wicked and cruel, inflicting unspeakable misery on humankind, because they rejected the one true living God!
We are living in an era of time when the conscience of a nation is not necessarily in tune to the God of all creation! The god of prosperity, evilness and corruption, has intervened in the form of satanic eruptions to feed the heart of man with lustful desires that attempt to outweigh God’s corrective Word.
God of this World
Apostle Paul noted: If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost; in whom the god of this world (Satan) has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God should shine unto them (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). It was noted that Satan’s control of the world system is to effectively shield the lost (unbelievers) from the light of the gospel of Christ (saving of the soul).
The conscience of a nation invokes such blindness by displaying sin as desirable, as the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden (previously mentioned), and downplays the Word of God. The church, in some cases, has accepted worldly traits that have captivated the world, rather than stand firm on the Unadulterated (Pure) Word of God which changes not!
System of Government
It was noted that our ancestors established their system of government on morality and religious sentiment. Moral habits, they believed, cannot safely be trusted on any other foundation than religious principle, nor any government be secure which is not supported by moral habits. If truth is not diffused (promulgated), error will be; If the power of the Gospel is not felt throughout the length and breadth of the land, anarchy and misrule, degradation and misery, corruption and darkness will reign without mitigation or end.
If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering and to prosper; but if we neglect its instructions and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glory in profound obscurity (Daniel Webster). The conscience of a nation has allowed those words of warning to become a reality in the hour in which we live! There seemingly is immunity to the Word of God as man satisfies his fleshly desires; with the help of an electronic age.
Sodom and Gomorrah
Apostle Peter noted: God spared not the angels that sinned (Satan’s cohorts), but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto punishment; and spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the Flood upon the world of the ungodly.
Turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemning them with an overthrow (destruction), making them an example to those that afterward should live ungodly; and delivered just Lot, vexed (oppressed) with the filthy conversation (conduct) of the wicked (2 Peter 2:4-7). The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation and to reserve the unjust to the Day of Judgment to be punished (2 Peter 2:9)!
Evilness Portrayed
as Acceptable
The conscience of a nation, or individual, depends on what one allows to take place; such as the deception of evilness being portrayed as acceptable to a fallen world! God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah due to it choosing to ride on the wave of unrighteousness; as a warning to those who afterward would choose such a path!
Has man learned his lesson, or has the sinfulness of man elevated to such a degree that restraint has been tossed aside? Apostle Peter continued in his description of those who choose the wrong path, saying: They have forsaken the right way loving the ways of unrighteousness. It has happened to them according to the true proverb, the dog is turned to his own vomit again, and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire (2 Peter 2:22).
Reason for Judgment
Forestalled
Apostle Peter revealed that the conscience of a nation had turned to destructive ways, reaping that which it has sown, in saying: Whereby the world that then was (pre-Flood days of Noah), being overflowed with water, perished; the heavens and earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against (until) the day of judgment and perdition (destruction) of ungodly men (2 Peter 3:6-7).
What is keeping God’s judgment from being unleashed? Apostle Peter gave the reason why: The Lord is not slack concerning his promise (destruction of the ungodly), as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). It was noted that God is not willing that any should perish clearly expresses His desire for the salvation of all who will trust in Him!
Day of the Lord
Apostle Peter wrote: The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night (totally unexpected), in which the heavens and the earth shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up (2 Peter 3:10).
Apostle Peter was urging his readers to look beyond the present world, in saying: Nevertheless we (believers in Christ), according to his (God’s) promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness (restoration of that which was lost) (2 Peter 3:13). Peter concluded with: Seeing that you (the believer) look for such things be diligent that you may be found of him in peace, without spot and blameless (2 Peter 3:14)!
License to Indulge
It was noted that a man was asked; if given an hour to explain the Gospels to someone, how would he do so? He said he would spend the first fifty minutes on the bad news of judgment and then the last ten minutes on the good news of salvation, because without the context of judgment one would not appreciate or even understand salvation. We are seeing a laxity in ministering the judgmental side of God; giving man license to indulge; rather than restrain from its embrace!
There are ungodly influences, and relished lifestyles, being promoted that are condemned in God’s Word with few sounding the alarm revealing the price of consumption! In such cases, the conscience of a nation becomes immune towards corrective teaching or preaching which has not been passed from one generation to another; with a lost generation concept and preaching of the past not longer acceptable!
Standing in the Gap
The Prophet Ezekiel was informed God: Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned my holy things; they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither than they showed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them (Ezekiel 22:26).
This, among other sins was singled out for judgment (the conscience of a nation having been corrupted); then a statement from God: I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge (a wall), and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found none (Ezekiel 22:30). Who today is willing to stand in the gap for the land; will not compromise or flirt with the undesirable elements that are polluting the land?
Antidote given by
God
The conscience of a nation, or nations, could well be cataloged for judgment; if repentance and God’s grace is not applied! God give an antidote for any nation falling into such a category: If my people which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways (a Nineveh type repentance); then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).
It was noted that this promise was originally given to King Solomon, regarding the people of Israel, but is applicable to all who will call on the Lord in repentance and faith! This verse is a high expression of God’s loving readiness to hear the prayers of a repentant people.
Testimony of Conscience
Apostle Paul wrote: For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of your conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had (understand) our conversation (conduct) in the world, and more abundantly to you ward (2 Corinthians 1:12).
It was noted that these words should be the conscience of a nation, or individual, having the good intent of the heart, actions, conduct, and behavior, of sound faith and confidence. Not double-mindedness; not influenced by fleshly wisdom, towards a path of worldly embracement, but by the grace of God, to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world!
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