CONSCIENCE OF A
NATION
INTRODUCTION
Conscience of a nation curtails spiritual leadership that has escaped nations that once looked to God as their Deliverer and Provider. We are seeing devastation, chaos, and utter destruction of peaceful means that once existed; as people exit the conditional provisions of God's Word, to advocate lifestyles condemned in His Word.
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 good and evil.
The forbidden fruit has been continually consumed since that unfortunate day; even after God destroyed all that He had created, due to the corruptness of man in the days of Noah; with the exception of the those in the ark of safety. The conscience of a nation longevity is in the keeping power of a heavenly Father and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ; unless disobedience and an unrepentant spirit plays into focus.
Conscience of a Nation
Lustful Desires
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 dismissing God from their lives.
Nations ancient and modern have been wicked and cruel, inflicting unspeakable misery on humankind, because they rejected the one true God with no remorse in their actions. We are living in an era of time when the conscience of a nation is no longer tuned into the God of all Creation but to the false god of prosperity, evilness, and corruption; with satanic eruptions to feed the heart of mankind, with lustful enticements in an attempt to eliminate God from the scene.
Blindness Imparted
The Apostle Paul noted: If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world (Satan and his satanic influence) 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. The conscience of a nation invokes such blindness as it advocates sin as desirable and downplays the Word of God; with the church becoming more acceptable to worldly influence than to stand firm on "What Thus saith the Lord!"
Reign of Corruption
and Darkness
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 (Daniel Webster). The conscience of a nation has allowed those such to come into focus in the hour in which we live. There is an immunity to the Word of God as man seeks to satisfy his own fleshly desires; with the help of an electronic age being utilized for such a purpose.
Flame of Righteousness
It was noted that a famous 19th century French statesman, and historian, traveled to a new nation to discover the reasons for its incredible success. He wrote: Not until I went into the churches and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power.
How many nations are allowing deceitfulness and rejection of God's Word to elevate and are now allowing dismissal of the righteousness of a nation concept? Has the flame of righteousness died out; leaving the immorality of man to dominate the scene, rather than the righteousness of God?
Path of Righteousness or
Unrighteousness
Scripture reveals: 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 judgment; 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; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow (destruction), making them an example to those that afterward should live ungodly (2 Peter 2:4-6).
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). The conscience of a nation, or individual, depends on what one allows to take place; the deception of evilness portrayed as being acceptable, or the righteousness of God?
God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah due to their choosing to ride on the wave of unrighteousness; as an example to those who afterward would chose such a path. The Apostle Peter addressed those who chose to depart from the pathway of righteousness, in saying: It is 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).
Destructive Ways
The Apostle Peter revealed that the conscience of a nation (people) had turned to destructive ways, in saying: Whereby the world that then was (the pre-Flood days of Noah), being overflowed with water, perished: but the heavens and the 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 judgment from being unleashed? Scripture reveals: The Lord is not slack concerning his promise (towards 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); this clearly expresses God's desire for the salvation of all who will trust in Him.
Understanding Salvation
It was noted that a man was asked; if given an hour to example the Gospel to someone, how would you 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 understand salvation.
There is a laxity in ministering the judgmental side of God (identifying sin); as man continues to live under ungodly influences and relishes ungodly lifestyles that have become acceptable in the culture of today. When such occurs the conscience of a nation becomes immune to any attempt to alter such a status.
Day of the Lord
will Come
Scripture reveals: 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).
It was noted that the elements shall melt with fervent heat could refer to a nuclear holocaust. The Apostle Peter was urging his readers to look beyond the present world, in saying: Nevertheless we (the believers in Christ), according to his (God's) promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.
Wherefore, 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). Seeing then that you know these things beforehand, beware lest you also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:17-18).
Not Influenced by
Fleshly Wisdom
The 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).
Those words by Apostle Paul, and his fellow ministers, bore the testimony of their consciences, towards the goodness of their heart, action, conduct, and behavior, the groundwork of their faith and confidence.
Not of double mindedness, saying one thing, and meaning another. Not influenced by fleshly wisdom; which would steer one towards the path of worldly advantage, but by the grace of God, to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.
Antidote for any
Nation
Scripture reveals: If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgave their sin, and will heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).
It was noted that while this promise was originally given to King Solomon regarding the people of Israel, it 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.
The conscience of a nation, or individual, needs to be tuned into the fact that righteousness exalts a nation: but sin is a reproach (disgrace) to any people (Proverbs 14:34). Righteousness is adhering to moral principles; with conformity to a divine life in the Lord. One man noted: A twinge of conscience is a glimpse of God (Peter Ustinoy).
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