How many people have you heard say that they are justified in what they do because it “feels right”? Many people live their lives by what they feel and not by what they know is right.
In Acts 23:1, the apostle Paul spoke to the people of Jerusalem about his background. He told the people that he was a Jew, taught by a master teacher, Gamaliel, and spoke about his service as a man sent to bring Christians to be punished for their belief (Acts 22:3).
Paul continued his speech by giving these people the story of his conversion. He said that he met the Lord on the road to Damascus, was struck blind, sent into the city where he was taught by Ananias, had his sight returned, and had his sins washed away in baptism (Acts 22:6-16).
He also told them how he held the coats of the men that stoned Stephen, and he took responsibility for consenting to Stephen’s death (Acts 22:20).
Standing before a council he spoke these words, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day” (Acts 23:1, ESV). He made a similar statement in chapter 26, verse 9, “I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth.”
Paul oppressed the Christians before his conversion. He consented to the death of Stephen. He hunted down the Christians and imprisoned them for what he believed was right. But he was wrong!
Paul had always been a religious man. He was passionate about his belief, but he was mistaken. So, what did he do? He listened; he obeyed; he changed. Paul went from a murderer of Christians to becoming one of them. He did this with an open mind and heart.
There are things we do because we think we are doing the right thing. How many of us are willing to change when we are presented with proof that we are wrong? How open are we to change, particularly when it is so clearly presented.
We may do something wrong thinking it is right. When we learn differently, we need to accept our mistake and change.
Paul spoke to Timothy about those that would take up false teachings. He said that those who would teach falsely would be those whose “consciences are seared” (I Timothy 4:3). The devil would have filled their hearts with deceit and false teachings, and they would become convinced that they were right. They would consider themselves justified in what they were doing. In other words, they would consider themselves justified by their conscience.
Paul is an example of just how wrong we can be when we depend on our conscience. We cannot justify our actions just because it “feels right” or because we don’t “feel uncomfortable” when we do something.
“I think” or “I feel” that something is right or wrong won’t tell us what God wants us to do. Only a study of God’s word will give us the answers we need to make such a determination.
Sandra Oliver