A "GUILTY" CONSCIENCE?Extra from Volume 10#4 |
by Emileine S. Have you ever had the feeling that you have done something wrong, and just don't know what it was? Did you go around with a guilty “conscience”? Did it eventually tire you out? Lately, I struggled with this. I felt that I had done something wrong, and became so paranoid over this feeling that I started looking through my past. I began feeling remorse for old sins that Christ's blood have long since covered. I felt unforgiven and my relationship with God felt without peace and uncomfortable. What had happened? Revelation 12:10 says, “And I heard a loud voice in Heaven saying, 'Now is come salvation and strength and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ, for the accuser of our brethren is cast down,which accused them before our God day and night.” Satan is the accuser that stands before God, and can tempt us with thoughts like, “God has not forgiven you. Your sins are not covered.” Our enemy walks about like a roaring lion. He longs for us to believe we are not forgiven. However, Jesus Christ has won the victory and He has saved us from our sins. He said, “It is finished.” God's indignation toward His children has been appeased, for the Lord has laid on Christ the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53) “But I do not feel like I am forgiven,” some may say. Dear daughter of the King, we do not depend on our feelings for our salvation. Ours is a faith of fact, not emotion. Emotions change and come and go. Praise God, He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The word of the Lord endures forever, as Isaiah 40:8 says. Pray in faith, for deliverance from the sin of doubt. We must refuse thoughts that move our faith in Christ's finished work. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it”(I Corinthians 10:13). “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (II Corinthians 12:9). Paul was speaking in this verse about his thorn in the flesh, and previously describes it as a messenger from Satan. Truly that is the root of our struggle of doubt. But we have victory in Jesus. Christ paid the price for our sins, and I “am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” (II Timothy 1:12). What a marvelous promise! Ling to it, and you will be given the victory. Fight the good fight of faith with me, and run the race of the high upward calling, pressing toward the mark. |
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