CONSCIENCE

   Edgar Allen Poe was an American writer, poet, editor and literary critic best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tails of mystery and the macabre ( ghastly, gruesome and horrible ). Born January 1809 -died October 1849; cause of death unknown. Perhaps you might remember his poem “ The Raven “ from your high school English class. The first verse is:

   Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore- While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,  As of someone gently rapping - rapping at my chamber door. ‘tis some visitor”, I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door- Only this and nothing more”.

   As the poem continues, this student of forgotten lore is visited by a raven that croaks out one mysterious word; “Nevermore”. The raven’s word “Nevermore” reminds the student of his lost love “ the sweet Lenore”. As memories of Lenore flood back into his mind, his conscience now begins to plague his thoughts and attitude.

   Every person has a conscience. According to Webster’s Dictionary, conscience is “ a complex of ethical and moral principles that controls or inhibits the actions and thoughts of an individual”. James Packer helps to clarify this in his book “Concise Theology”. He states that “ Conscience is the built-in power of our minds to pass moral judgments on ourselves , approving or disapproving our attitudes, actions, reactions and plans. Conscience has in it two elements, (a) an awareness of certain things as being right or wrong and (b) an ability to apply laws and rules to specific situations. Conscience, as distinct from our other powers of mind, is unique; it feels like a person detached from us, often speaking when we would like it to be silent and saying things that we would rather not hear. We can decide whether or not to heed conscience but we cannot decide whether or not it will speak; our experience is that it decides for itself”.

   In “The Raven”, the student’s conscience continues to plague him with the wrongfulness of the loss of Lenore. “Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore! Quoth the raven, Nevermore”.

   A summary of “ The Raven “, published by sparknotes.com states that “ the poem explores how grief can overcome a person’s ability to live in the present and engage with society. Over the course of the poem, the speaker’s inability to forget his lost love Lenore drives him to despair and madness”.

   It is interesting that after more than 175 years, Mr Poe’s poem could be rewritten in our modern world culture. Ever since the beginning of time, all of mankind has been subject to trouble and problems; some worse than others, but still lurking around the next corner. The bad news is that there will always be problems, troubles, trials, tests and aggravations as long as we live. So, how are

we to survive all of this without despair and madness?

   Today, it seems as if there is a recovery program on every street to help overcome any crisis that you can think of; plus a plethora of medical doctors who will supply mind-numbing pharmaceuticals to overcome anxiety and depression. Obviously, first, any person struggling with physical or mental issues should have a medical exam by their doctor to rule out any physical issue that can

be resolved with proper medication.

   “Behavior modification” therapy can be helpful to the extent of preventing an aggressive or violent behavior by replacing a negative or socially unacceptable deed with a positive or acceptable deed. This is essentially attempting to change a person’s conduct from “ the outside to the inside”. However, this does not address the conflict of the person’s memory and conscience, thus leaving no hope for peace of mind. Therefore, let’s consider the next alternative which is to make the life style changes from the “inside out”.

   As noted by Packer, the conscience has the power to approve or disapprove our attitudes, actions, reactions, thoughts and plans. To begin with, every person has a memory in their mind. What is your mind? Your mind is the element, part, substance or process that reasons, thinks, feels, perceives and judges. Just as your computer has a memory bank to record and save data or information, so does your mind have its own memory bank to recall what has been entered. When a memory is recalled, then conscience will step in to process the memory according to the standards by which it has been educated or trained. Thus, a person will feel approved or condemned concerning what they have previously said or done.

   Also, conscience will influence our current and future conduct. Culture, society and family will generally establish the parameters of what we consider right or wrong and we try to continue abiding within these parameters due to our training, education and association with those around us. However, there is an innate problem within the progression through time and generations.

   The problem is that human beings do not tolerate restraint. Therefore, over time, the parameters continually widen; sometimes very slowly, sometimes very quickly. Just like a shifting sand dune or flowing lava, human boundaries are not static.

   So, as these parameters and boundaries widen, the liberal conscience will permit us to think, act or do that which previously would never have been acceptable and do it without remorse. A study of mankind through history will show that in spite of increase in knowledge, increase in technology or increase of affluence, most nations and cultures are becoming more morally bankrupt than ever before at a very rapid pace. Today, the conscience of mankind is almost numb.

   Is there a solution to this devastating problem? Is there a way to give hope where there is no hope? Is there a way to restore the parameters so that people will know who they are, why they are here and where they are going? Is it possible to wake up in the morning with a real sense of purpose in this life? Is it possible to be content and have real peace in your soul? The answer to every one of these questions is --- absolutely YES!!

   No matter whether you know it or not, nor whether you believe it or not, you were created with a body, a soul and a spirit. The Christian Bible states that human beings were created in the image of the God Jehovah; thereby, possessing the same basic characteristics as Jehovah. Nothing else in this world has these same characteristics and the only way for the created thing to have them is for the Creator to be capable of bestowing them. God loves His creation, especially human beings, so much that He inspired men to write a book to express His love. The title of that book is The Holy Bible.

   It is interesting to note that people worldwide will spend billions of dollars every year to maintain and provide for their body which may last only 70 or 80 years and yet completely ignore their souls and spirit which are eternal. Eternity is forever!

   There are some who still insist that there is no supreme God. God’s written word (the Bible) responds in Psalms 14:1; “The fool has said in his heart, there is no God”. In fact, the same words are written again in Psalms 53:1. Do you play poker? How often do you bet into a pat hand and win? How often can you play Russian Roulette with a pistol and expect to win? Is it worth the chance?

   We should care for our physical bodies for they also are a gift from God, but not at the expense of our spirit and soul. Do you remember the previous questions; do you know who you are, why you are alive and where you are going in this life? Do you really have a purpose? Are you really content and do you have real peace in your soul? When your conscience speaks, is it in your best interest? The answers to these questions are found in the New Testament in the Bible. 

   Let’s start with rest for your soul. In Mathew 11:28,Jesus said “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest”. Next is peace for your heart and mind. Jesus said in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you”. The writer of the book of Philippians, chapter 4 verse 17 said, “ and the peace of God which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a peaceful spirit and satisfied soul no matter what this world can throw at you? Human beings are a curious lot. They will take their car to a mechanic for repairs, their teeth to a dentist for repairs and their computer to a shop for repairs and yet they will refuse to take their spirit and soul to the only One who can repair them.

   John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life”. Mathew 18:11 declares: “For the Son of Man (Jesus) is come to save that which was lost”. In John 10:10 Jesus said “ I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly”. The repairs and healing of your heart and soul are free. Jesus has already paid the price for you. He is the only true hope for your soul and spirit. Come to Jesus today.