Conscience vs conversion, who's the boss?

From: Ben Kelley
Subject: Conscience vs conversion, who's the boss?

Scripture teaches us we are tripartite beings, existing as body, soul, and spirit. If you think of 3 individuals working on a task, you realize one must be "in charge," with the others as subordinates, in order for the work to be accomplished. Otherwise, there will be confusion, because when decisions must be made on how to do things, each would have equal authority and no one would be able to choose which way to do. It's similar to our body, which is comprised of several parts, but the head is in charge, telling the others what to do and when to do it. When, by choice, we make our soul or body the boss, we yield to their desires. When we choose the spirit as leader, we make our decisions and actions to conform to spiritual desires. In this message, I designate the soul/ body option as "conscience," and the spiritual as "conversion." Using a passage describing some of Herod's (Antipas) life, let's see how the two differ in their results. Herod had a conscience (con=with, science=knowledge), but not a conversion. We see his conscience and its choices in the following:

Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not; for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee. And when Herodias' daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, "Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you." He also swore to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom." So she went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" And she said, "The head of John the Baptist!" Immediately she came in with haste to the king and asked, saying, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter." And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison, (Mark 6:19-27 (NKJV)

Herod's conscience, or knowledge, told him John was right and good. Although John's message condemned Herod's adulterous act of marrying His brother Phillip's wife, Herod knew John preached truth and was moved by his godly messages. His conscience helped guide his actions and caused him to protect John from Herod's wife, who wanted him killed for exposing their sin. That was a good thing, but his conscience was controlled by his soul/body, and when sufficient conflict arose in him, it proved insufficient to prevent compromise. His lust and pleasurable feelings, generated by his stepdaughter's sensual dancing, along with his sense of pride, took charge over his spirit and moved him to do that which he knew was wrong. Even though his conscience made him exceedingly sorry, he ordered John's execution. Conscience can be good, but it's not sufficient to prevent compromise. The moral strength of our soul/body is very weak, and we need spiritual power to defeat compromise. In the words of Jesus, Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matthew 26:41 (KJV)

Conversion (con=with, version=turning around), on the other hand, moves us to turn and follow after the Spirit of God, causing us to resist compromise and honor commitment to Him and His will. When we choose to let the spirit be boss, we seek to do His will, and not our own. We follow the way of Jesus, Who said, I can of mine own self (through soul/body power) do nothing (good): as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. (John 5:30 (KJV) Our conscience can appear good, doing a good impersonation of our conversion, but eventually it will break down and compromise, because it has the soul/body as its leader. Only conversion, turning to God, can give us the strength and power to honor commitment to Him.

The world honors conscience, as the Disney character, Jiminy Cricket, sang "Take the strait and narrow path, and if you start to slide, give a little whistle, give a little whistle, and always let your conscience be your guide." God, though, honors conversion. Jesus said, Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven (Matthew 7:21 (KJV) For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. (Matthew 12:50 (KJV)

May we, each day, seek to convert, to turn our hearts towards God. May we seek His will and way, walking in the power of the Spirit, resisting compromise and remaining committed to Him. Who's the boss? our conscience, or our conversion?