A clear conscience is an incredible gift from God. My readings in Job 31 show that a clear conscience protects the sufferer from condemnation. A person with a clean conscience can stand unscathed from vicious attacks, accusations, innuendos, smears, gossips and lies.
A clear conscience, however, is not a given. Years ago I was involved in a church split. For years until today, I still feel the sting of that breakup. I had a part in that failed relationship.
Job, however, stands to his conviction that he is righteous. He is adamant insisting he has treated others fairly, kindly and generously. He claims to be pure morally and ethically.
Where does Job get this confidence? How can we have this confidence too?
The answer can’t be found in Job 31, alone. Here he claims to a sterling spirituality. But he can’t rest entirely on his record. The answer actually can be found elsewhere, the earlier part of the book. Job offered sacrifices for his children. He understood that he cannot stand on his own merit. He had to depend on someone, the sacrifice of another, in his case, the sacrificed animal.
His righteous life flowed from his worship.
We too can’t stand on our own merit. Clear conscience depends on someone’s merit. Job’s sacrificial lamb is a picture of Jesus, the ultimate sacrifice, without blemish, the sinless, infinitely pure Son who gave his life in our place, and who offers to us a righteousness that makes us acceptable to God.
Having been cleaned, made right before God, reconciled, adopted and now indwelt by God, with good works following, we live with a clear conscience.
Daniel & Emma Villa 