Having a Clear Conscience

Yesterday, my wife had to appear for jury duty in Tarrant County along with what appeared to be a thousand other people. Since the weather was kind of messy, I chose to take her downtown opting to camp out in a nearby Starbucks of 7th Street. As I was driving to the Starbucks, I passed a local bar that probably is a popular spot for those "living the good life." On the bar's marquee was posted this statement, "A CLEAR CONSCIENCE IS THE FIRST SIGN OF HAVING A BAD MEMORY." For many reading that sign as they drive by or as the enter the bar's door, they might shout silently, "Amen." Because from their point of view anyone who would profess to have a clear conscience would be either a liar or someone with a really bad memory. The truth is that in my life I've done much that I'm ashamed to speak of, but I'm unashamed to confess today that I have a clear conscience - not because I've forgotten the sin which will forever be a part of my memory - but because of the grace of God. The enemy of our souls, the Devil, would love to imprison us with guilt or paralyze us with the fear but the good news of the Gospel is able to liberate us. I rejoice in the truth of Romans 8:1-6, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace."
Too many have chosen to set the mind on the flesh - i.e., choosing to live in such a way that doesn't glorify God - turning their backs on the life that God desires them to experience. That's a bad trade - living for the moment instead of for the glory of God. Notice true "life and peace" comes from setting ones mind on the Spirit.