Question: “How can we know if we are acting to God’s will? A teacher told me that we cannot know if we are doing right or wrong to His will.”
Answer: Here we find two opposing religious views. One view says that you can please God and the other says it’s impossible. In the book of Hebrews both of these views are laid out side by side. The deciding factor between the two is faith. Those who have faith move beyond their own doubts and fears and believe what others assume is not possible. One looks to God by faith and says yes, we can know right from wrong. We can live in a way that pleases God. The other looks at self with all its weakness and says no.
“By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:5, 6).
This same truth is touched upon in the last chapter of Hebrews in relation to having a ‘good conscience’ towards God.
“Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner” (Hebrews 13:18, 19).
There is probably nothing that brings peace to heart and soul more readily than a conscience that lives honestly before men and God. Amid the turbulent elements that were ever seeking to destroy his labors and life, Paul rejoiced that he was enabled by the grace of God to live according to a good conscience (see 2 Corinthians 1:12). This was his testimony when brought before the enemies of the gospel (see Acts 23:1). Living with a clean conscience gave Paul a powerful testimony because he could speak truthfully to the conscience of every man (see 2 Corinthians 4:2). Conscience is the voice of God to our souls; the co-perception we have with God concerning the truth given to us by the Holy Spirit. The Bible warns us that in the end of time many will depart from the faith and have their conscience “seared with a hot iron” (1 Timothy 4:1, 2). Yet those who hold fast to the Word of God and choose to honor their conscience, refusing to have it “seared” or compromised can rejoice in the message of the following verses:
“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:20, 21).
