Many of us, including myself, have often wondered how an atheist, a nonbeliever in God, would ever know right from wrong. Many of us witness to nonbelievers for the sole purpose of bringing them to Christ, so they can take advantage of the gift of salvation which Christ has offered us. I often wondered - was it fair for people in the remote areas of the world, to lose eternal life in Heaven, simply because they never heard of Christ, and just did whatever they felt like doing?
After reading Romans 1:19-20, it became clear that God gave everybody in the world a conscience. "What may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse." To put that statement in simpler English, it would sound like this: "For the truth about God is known to them instinctively; God has put this knowledge in their hearts. Since earliest times men have seen the earth and sky and all God made, and have known of His existence and great eternal power. So they will have no excuse when they stand before God on Judgment Day."
He is saying - that by observing the world around us, the Heavens, the stars, plant life, the balance of nature, the miracle of birth, we should know enough to look and realize Someone created it. This statement is also a good rebuke for anyone who tries to push evolution on you, when they can’t produce proof through missing links in humans or animals.
In Romans 2:11-16, in easy English: "For God treats everyone the same. He will punish sin wherever it is found. He will punish the heathen when they sin, even though they never had God's written Laws, for down in their hearts they know right from wrong. God's Laws are written within them; their own conscience accuses them, or sometimes excuses them.... The day will surely come when at God's command Jesus Christ will judge the secret lives of everyone, their innermost thoughts and motives; this is all part of Gods great plan..."
There just is not any excuse, no matter who you are, to not know right from wrong. You cannot murder, abort your baby, steal, covet, be promiscuous, lead others astray etc, and then come up with some agnostic excuse. It won’t hold up in God's court.
As John Hagee states: "Conscience is the compass of the soul! Conscience is the voice of God saying, 'This is the way - walk in it!' Conscience is not only the voice of God, it is the gift of God!"
And indeed conscience is a gift. For without that God-given gift, this world would be in far worse shape than you could imagine.
By George Konig
Oct. 3, 2004
www.georgekonig.org
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