Doing the right thing is never easy. That’s why so many don’t do it.
The other day I was in Home Depot looking for stain for my fence. There was this hugh latter thing blocking the shelf where the stain was. The brakes were on but I pushed it out of the way. In doing so I knocked down a fairly large sign that read “stain”. After an internal debate within myself, I went up to the kid the working paint desk to ask him a question. Then I said,”O’ by the way I knocked down your sign. He’s said it was ok and proceeded to point where what I was looking for was located. Another guy at the counter turned to me and said, “hey man, that was a good thing you did. most people wouldn’t have said anything.” I wish I could tell you that I always do the right thing, but there are times I don’t. This time I felt my conscience bother me, so I did.
That got me thinking that today it’s rare that, in general, people are not bothered by doing wrong. That injustice and unrighteousness are as normal as eating. What we have today is a crises of conscience. That God given alarm system is deliberately set to “off”. Paul talks about this in his first letter to Timothy. He talks about those “who suppress the truth by their unrighteousness.” He instructs young Timothy to “cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their conscience, as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.” In other words, they suppress the truth by their wickedness.
I happen to live nextdoor to two transgender people. In conversations Katherine, she told me they used to be men. She went on to tell me she was raised in a traditional Christian home but some things happened to make her leave the faith. Her partner seemed fine but whenever I observed Kat she always seemed not to be at peace. I’m not judging them, that’s not my job. I just try to live righteously and pray for them. The only reason I bring this up is that Kat, deep down, knows her lifestyle is wrong. However, she continues to live that way.
The gay flag hung over their house last June bothered me every time I saw it. And it should. When we get to the point where unrighteousness doesn’t bother us we’re in trouble. God wants us to love the sinner but not the sin. However, sadly, we live in a society today that lives as enemies of the Cross. Speaking the truth and living righteously is offensive to most. I’m sure Lot was grieved living in Sodom.
We must never get comfortable with sin; ours or theirs. Choosing to live with a good conscience is today is uncomfortable to say the least. It will cost us if we do. Though it will cost us much more if we don’t