David was conscience stricken because he knew he had disobeyed the Lord’s directives. Have you ever noticed how some people, no matter what they do, don’t seem to have a conscience, or have a dead conscience and justify their every action? And then there is the philosophy that says, “If it feels good, do it.” And this is supposed to make it right? This is pure nonsense.

Everybody is born with a conscience that is programmed very much by the way we are brought up. The word con-science literally means with-knowledge. If we grew up in a rigid, legalistic and punitive home or church/religion, chances are we will have a rigid, legalistic, punitive conscience. On the other hand, if we grew up in a very liberal environment, we may do things that God’s Word teaches are sinful and not feel a tinge of conscience.

As a result of faulty teaching, some people feel guilty when they shouldn’t and don’t feel guilty when they should. On the other hand, people who consistently ignore the voice of their conscience can end up anesthetizing or deadening it, which is a dangerous way to live. Some of these people become psychopaths.

To have a healthy conscience, first we need to deprogram the rigid legalism and other faulty input and teaching we received in the past as well as our rationalization of actions we knew very well were wrong. Then we need to reprogram our conscience with knowledge based on what God’s Word teaches as right and wrong. Repetition, repetition, repetition in our mind of these truths and these principles is how we reprogram our conscience.

To reinforce this programming it is imperative that we consistently do what we know is right regardless of how we feel. Remember, a healthy con-science is with-knowledge, not with-or-about-feelings.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please give me the good sense to learn what is right according to the principles as found in your Word, and the help to always follow your directives in thought, word, and deed. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

1. 2 Samuel 24:10 (NIV).

Floyd Lane, a talented basketball player who attended “City College in New York in 1951, accepted a $3,000.00 bribe to shave points in just three games. Because other players were doing this, he decided to go with the group.”

Big mistake. He and the other players got caught, arrested, and expelled from school. For the next twenty-three years Lane was unable to get a job as a player or a coach in sports because of what he had done. Finally, in 1974, his old college employed him as a coach.

When we make mistakes, which we all do from time to time, it’s encouraging to know that we still have a choice to put things right. Fortunately, when we admit what we have done, God forgives us. The next step is to put things right, and to make sure we deal with and resolve the root cause of our mistakes so we don’t keep repeating the same mistakes and making bad choices.

More important is that we don’t make bad choices in the first place because it is “choice, not chance, that determines our destiny.” All of us are where we are today based on the choices—good and bad—that we have made in the past. Furthermore, where we will be in five, ten, fifteen, twenty years time—and in eternity—will be based on the choices we have made or will make today and in the future.

Above all, when it comes to eternity—life after death—as the Bible urges, choose carefully and wisely whom you will serve. Be absolutely sure you have your “passport for heaven.” You can see how to obtain yours by going to: https://learning.actsweb.org/art_passport.htm. Whatever you do, don’t leave earth without it.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that we have a choice about life after death and that you have provided the way of salvation by giving your Son, Jesus, to die for my sins. Please help me to know with certainty that my sins are forgiven and that I have my ‘passport for heaven.’ Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

1. Joshua 24:15 (NKJV).