Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.”
Acts 23:1
With clear, solid eye contact, the first words Paul said to the assembled Jewish religious leaders were, “I have live in all good conscience before God to this day.”
He wanted his audience to know that he was committed to his spiritual and moral choices that had resulted in his trial before them. He was ready to stand before God and be accountable for his choices and actions. Inherent in Paul’s statement, of course, was the challenge: were they ready?
After Paul’s (Saul’s) conversion on the Damascus Road he was totally committed to Christ Jesus. His entire life from that point on was wrapped up in his words, “Lord…what would you have me to do.” From then on, he would preach Christ crucified and Him glorified. He would live his life to glorify God, exalt the name of Jesus and proclaim the “good news,” the gospel.
What Are You Going To Say?
If I had to stand before God or man and give an account of my life, what would I do or say? Could I say to man that “I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day?” Have I lived my life to glorify God? Or, have I sought the praise of man and desired to accomplish more than my peers for pride’s sake? When all of the facades are stripped away and there is no more pretense to be made. All that will matter is “I have lived with a clear conscience before God, whether man is pleased with me or not.
We will all stand before Christ at His Judgment Seat (the Bema) and give an account for the deeds that we have done in this life. Our deeds will be tested with fire. If our deeds are “wood, hay or stubble,” they will be burnt up and amount to nothing. If they are as “gold, silver, or precious stones,” they will stand. The simple question is this, are we living our lives to glorify God? Are our motives pure? Can we say that we have lived and are living with a clear conscience before God? Let’s live life abundantly through Christ Jesus and glorify our Lord in the process. Amen and amen.
