Have you ever thought to yourself, “I could never do that!” or “That’s not right!” Perhaps you can recall a time when you changed your mind concerning a particular plan because something told you not to.

What is that something we all reference from time to time? What is it that warns us beforehand; causes us to feel guilt; or convicts us when we’re wrong?

IT is our CONSCIENCE – the sense of what is right and wrong that governs our thoughts and actions, urging us to do what is right rather than wrong. The conscience is the inner prompting whose purpose is to not only alarm but correctly instruct us according to the standards of God.

For those that have chosen the narrow path, the conscience plays a far greater role than just making one aware of what is ethical.  It is the inner feeling or voice upon which we strongly depend to hold us accountable to choose what God deems as virtuous. But it isn’t innate or inherent.

Although everyone has a conscience, it is not infallible. But you could’ve guessed that! It’s a fallible, unregenerated conscience that allows one to do the very things we say we could never do. Truth is, we are all born in sin, and therefore shaped in iniquity. Before becoming a disciple of Christ, we, too, suffered from a fallible, weak conscience. But, just as our mindsets have to be changed once we come to God, so must the conscience – which is tied to our soul. The conscience must be retaught – cleansed. It is through teaching, and the application of doctrine that our conscience is strengthened (1 Tim 1:5).

God desires to cleanse our conscience, but we must submit to the process. In order for our conscience to progress from weak to spiritually strong, we must:

(1) Submit to the entire counsel of God (Ps 119: 9-11, 2 Tim 3:13-17, Ps 119: 101-109);

(2) Always be ready to receive correction and constructive criticism regardless of who it comes through (Prv 13:1, Prv 15:5, Prv 15:10, Prv 15:12, Prv 15:31-32);

(3) Admit when we are wrong and do not attempt to protect our image (2 Sam 12:1-15);

(4) Have a heart of forgiveness – pardoning those who do wrong by us (Mt 18:21-35);

(5) Change our associations (Prv 12:26, Prv 22:24-45, 1Cor 15:33-34); and

(6) Repent without excuses or justifications. This means rectifying the situation and remembering what happened so you don’t repeat it (Ps 51).

The job of the enemy is to defile, sear, callous your conscience as to weaken its effectiveness. The fourth chapter of First Timothy says that the enemy will use a deceiving or lying spirit to move people off course by searing their conscience to the truth they used to know and support. Once the conscience becomes weak, the spirit of God can no longer guide us according to the Spirit of God. We become comfortable with that which God considers immoral; eventually losing that which brings conviction and the fear that keeps us from sinning.

The change, however, won’t happen overnight. Apostasy CREEPS in. Once the conscience is seared, we gradually drift from what we once knew as truth – often recognizing but never having the conviction that comes with a strong conscience to remain true to that you once knew.

With every decision, every boundary pushed, apostasy creeps in. Just as a thief becomes comfortable with his sin or the justification for his sin, so will those who continue to override the promptings of God or justify the things that they once knew were displeasing to the Father. Paul says, in Titus 1:15, “The people profess to know God but in their works deny him”. This means that there are many that will testify of God, His power, and even their Christian status, but to look at their lives in action, you would never know that they ever really knew HIM. Their conscience, now drifted from truth and possibly seared, no longer has enough strength to sway their thoughts and actions in the way of righteous.    

The goal of every believer, follower, disciple of Christ should be to keep his or her conscience pure. For without the conscience, what then is our guide? To do so, we must remain FAT – Faithful, Available/Accountable, and Teachable – doing what is necessary for maintaining a clean (not necessarily a clear) conscience.

Have you noticed how fast time is passing by? Do you find yourself saying, “There is not enough time in a day?” It’s as if there has been an acceleration of time in earth.

Things are changing so rapidly. Technology is dated every 6 months; privacy is no longer valued; things that were abnormal are now normal; the forbidden is now tolerated; and freedom of speech, especially when it comes to the sharing of God’s Truth, is now considered a crime of hate to those who don’t agree with the word.

Something is definitely brewing and our generation fails to see it because we have become Eternity Blind-folded.

When a smartphone generation, constantly changing with the latest trends, tries to serve a God that never deviates from His word, the perception of who God is becomes diluted to accommodate the current flow of the culture.  Even “Spiritual” leaders of this generation are convinced that the God of the Old Testament is not the God of the New Testament. Who told you that? Hebrews 13:8 says, “God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”  The judgment seat is now the seat of mercy, but God is still the God that judges.

Jesus provides, beforehand, two examples of what it would be like when the Lord returns and judges a nation of people (Lk 17:22-33). If one would spiritually heed to these judgments, of a people who accepted what God deemed abnormal as normal, they would find that Jesus’ return may be much sooner than one thinks. We can’t allow the number of times that we have heard “Jesus is Coming Back” to desensitize us to the undeniable Truth that Jesus WILL return. And if the Days of Noah and the Days of Lot are any indication of when He’s returning, the Lord’s sudden appearance may be much sooner than any of us ever thought.

Like those in the day of Noah, this nation no longer has a concern for spiritual things. We are preoccupied with living a life of self-indulgence, and to the exclusion of God. Yet, when in need, we do not hesitate to run to him for rescuing. Our perception of who God is, His role as Lord, has been deduced to servant.  And like those in the Day of Lot, EVERYTHING has become about sex – pleasing the flesh and without boundaries.  From the cartoons on television to every product sold on a shelf, sensual appeal is the marketing scheme used to lure the people. Even the churches have become Sin Dens  – home to “Christians” guilty of Sexual Immorality.

The Day of the Lord is near, and the enemy is aware. It is for this reason that he has, cunningly, kept us so consumed with ourselves (our personal issues, desires, our flesh, our lives) that we have been Blind to Eternity – that which is inescapable and swiftly upon us. He knows that if we are consumed enough with just living, we will be distracted from that which is spiritual, and miss the signs of the Lord’s return.

Has the enemy blindfolded you to eternity? If so, what are you going to do about it?

Written on October 17, 2012 by Pastor Tavares Robinson

Before now, I have never seen, so much division in America. This year’s Presidential Election, alone, has the potential to produce a 21st Century Civil war. It would all be easier to understand if the conflict stemmed from unregenerate individuals governed by the works of their flesh; but this is not the case. Instead, a vast majority of the strife and chaos causing the division is birthed from those who are, supposedly, born again believers. Those who claim to believe and live by the teachings of Christ. I am appalled, ashamed and saddened by my fellow pastoral leaders who have used their influence, ethnic race, charisma, power, and popularity to sway those under them to back the political parties that they, themselves, personally support.

America, a nation founded on the principles of God, is perilously divided. The nation has forgotten about God, and the American church, which is supposed to speak on the behalf of God, is under a delusion. The church has lost sight of who is truly the head of the church. Many cannot comprehend the critical state of this nation’s spiritual condition. Moreover, they fail to see that the declining condition of the church has directly affected that of the nation. Today, our nation is immoral! Why? Because the church, first, lost it’s morality; Today, more and more people are becoming Anti-God. Why? Because the church elevated man’s agenda before God’s. Why is it that a nation whose laws once paralleled scripture, now despise the Bible? Its simple. The church no longer live and teach the Bible.  America has become the nation that hates God, clearly because the church in America does not know Him!

America is drowning in humanism as the church’s main focus and objective continues to be “Purpose Driven”. Today’s culture, unapologetically,  bleeds with self-centeredness, while leaders of the church erroneously encourage narcissistic behavior. The pulpit used to be the voice and the moral conscience of a nation. It’s whole purpose was to be the resource and dispenser of God’s truth to mankind (1 Timothy 3:15). But many on Christian platforms have been muzzled, losing their voice because they, like many others, have bought into and are corrupting the minds of the people with a secular version of love. In an attempt to be more “liked” or “accepted” by the people, leaders have ceased to proclaim the hard truths concerning Christ and his word. We are more worried about having a loving, non-judgmental appearance than teaching a word that brings conviction and consequently, godly correction and change.

This diabolical scheme of the enemy was sold to the church and we paid full price for it.  Now, the church leadership is being hijacked by men, who the apostle Paul would have never placed in charge; especially not to be the voice to the nations. Instead of preachers, we have business men; instead of preaching on sin; they motivate and proclaim the essentials of high self esteem. God doesn’t need or want politicians in this hour.  He needs true prophets!!! God is looking for those individuals that Jeremiah spoke of in Jeremiah 23:18:

But who among them has listened to the Lord, that he should see and hear His Word? Who has given thought to His Word and listened? 

What God is saying to America, should be the focus of every church today. Clearly, the handwriting of the Lord is on the wall, and time is quickly approaching when popular and celebrity preachers will be called on to diagnose the signs but will have no answer. We are delusional to think that the same God who blessed our Nation, will not, in his sovereignty, also severely punish our Nation. The judgment of the Lord is upon us. And as the days progress, we will see a greater manifestation of his correction and  abandonment. Is there hope? Of course there is, but we will not go unpunished. Like the Nation of Israel in the Days of Jeremiah, America has rejected the counsel of God too many times to avoid what The Lord has already put into play. His wrath on this nation is inevitable, but just.

So, what’s the hope? The hope is that those, that are a part of God’s faithful remnant, can rest assured knowing he will never forsake His chosen, called out ones. Not even in this midst of his wrath. 

Regardless of who you are – your talent, attendance record, “ministry” or title, now is the  time for each of us to examine (judge) ourselves that we may not be judged. It’s time for us to take serious inventory of our walks, to see if we are in the truth faith, and not the very popular, but distorted faith. It’s time for God’s people to shift their focus from the temporal things of this world, and become more eternally minded – valuing things that have heavenly value.

God’s word must have complete authority over our lives, instead of our ever-changing feelings and needs. The time has come for us to stop pursuing positions of importance, and start desiring conformity to Christ’s image. We have to get back to the essential mindset of the believer which is that “this world is not our home”. We are merely pilgrims passing through. Not citizens! Christ and his agenda has to be the focus of our meetings. Not entertainment! We have to become Spirit-driven people. Not a cultural-relative people that change with the generational trends.

Believe it or not, the time has come. Christ is about to do what he must to bring America back to the revelation that,  apart from him, we are nothing!